- विज्ञापन -
Jalandhar: When terrorists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, on April 22, asked about religion and stained the Baisaran Valley with human blood, it was decided then that India must wage a decisive battle against terrorism. For the first time, cross-border terrorism carried out targeted killings based on religion. Husbands were murdered in front of their wives. The sole intent was to create religious tension in India. Just a week earlier, on April 16, Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, addressing a conference of overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad, called Jammu-Kashmir the lifeline of Pakistan and, citing the two-nation theory, stated that Pakistan and India are separate nations because their religions, traditions, ideologies, and ambitions are different.
Then, after the Pahalgam attack, on April 28, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif admitted in an interview with Sky News that Pakistan had supported and financed terrorist organizations for three decades, describing it as “dirty work” done for the United States. The very next day, on April 29, India labeled Pakistan a deceitful country that promotes terrorism at the United Nations. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Yojna Patel, speaking at the inaugural event of the Victims of Terrorism Network (VOTAN), referenced Khawaja’s statement, saying that Pakistan cannot escape accountability by calling its support for terrorism “dirty work for the US.” She added that Pakistan has supported, trained, and financed terrorist organizations for decades. India urged the international community to recognize Pakistan as the global epicenter of terrorism.
This acknowledgment comes from Pakistan itself. On May 2, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto admitted in an interview that Pakistan’s past is linked to terrorism, and this is no secret.
This strong stance against terrorism has provided some solace to India’s wounds. The Indian women whose ‘Sindoor’ was wiped away may find some peace in their hearts, along with their families. But is this enough for India to rest? Will there be no more terrorist incidents in India or other countries in the future?
Terrorism is not just India’s problem; it is a global challenge. Many countries have faced terrorism, and all nations need to come together to combat this threat. In this context, the world must deeply analyze Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja’s statement. It is possible that this admission, claiming Pakistan’s support for terrorism was “dirty work for the US,” was timed to garner global sympathy after the Pahalgam attack.
It was certain that India would retaliate. This confession might also be an attempt to avoid global isolation. The world must understand that Pakistan cannot escape accountability with such excuses. Since its inception, Pakistan has been a rogue nation. For over two decades, it nurtured terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir, but the Western world turned a blind eye. It only woke up when the 9/11 attacks struck the US, destroying the Twin Towers and targeting the Pentagon. The mastermind, Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, evaded the US for a decade and was finally killed in Pakistan’s Abbottabad, right next to its military academy.
The US may have believed it had won its war against terrorism, but that is not the case. It must be understood that terrorism in one corner of the world will, sooner or later, affect other parts. The time has come for the world to treat terrorism as a pandemic and unite to fight it. As India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has demanded, the international community must take a firm stand against Pakistan, the global hub of terrorism.
The time has come for the United Nations and other international organizations to formulate a concrete policy against terrorism. Countries like Turkey and China often differentiate between types of terrorism. The UN must define terrorism clearly, and the world must agree on it. Strict sanctions should be imposed on countries that promote terrorism, and tough action must be taken against those who shelter terrorists. Only then can the dream of a peaceful, prosperous, and humane world be realized.
