Blog takes

With much talk on Indian TV of the need to raid Pakistan, Pakistanis debate the possibility and its possible outcome. Riaz Haq posted 8220;Can India Do a Lebanon8221; in Pakistanriazhaq.com/2008/12/can-india-do-lebanon-in-pakistan.html last Tuesday. He quotes Indian writer Pankaj Mishra8217;s article in The Guardian on the possibility of India imitating Israeli raids on Lebanon. He wonders whether Indians growing admiration for Israel, Obama8217;s support of India8217;s right 8220;to protect themselves8221;, and imminent general elections may tempt India to 8220;do a Lebanon8221;?

In a detailed argument, he warns India would fail. 8220;8230;they may8230; make some short-term tactical gains,8221; by killing a few suspected 8220;terrorists8221;, innocent civilians, and occupying some Pakistani territory temporarily. But in the long run, 8220;they run the risk of a spectacular strategic failure leading to more and bigger terrorist attacks and possibly a nuclear conflagration in the South Asian region.8221;

He argues that an Indian attack would 8220;relieve pressure on Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan8217;s FATA region, strengthen support for Pakistan8217;s military, weaken Pakistan8217;s democracy8221;.

Away from the chilling prospect of war, bloggers sympathized with individual tragedies. Fiverupees.blogspot.com, saw an account from the blogger8217;s long time friend, Nikhil, a Mumbaikar from New York in Mumbai during the attacks. 8220;I8217;m scared8230; for the first time, our Bombay has been attacked; not Mumbai8212;but my Bombay,8221; wrote Nikhil in 8220;Guest Post: No Longer Safe At Home8221;. 8220;I can8217;t stress enough how weird, and unsettling and scary this is8230;8221;

Nikhil ends sadly: 8220;Bombay will always be my home. Sadly, I no longer feel safe at home.8221;

Many responded with indignation: AKS was outraged by attackers cold-bloodedness contrasting them with a suicide bomber 8220;who doesn8217;t have to watch his victims die, scream in agony and beg for mercy. For three days these guys saw and heard all that and they kept on killing. This was barbaric and inhumane.8221;

Another blogger, Supersizeme feels ordinary Pakistanis do little to make any positive change 8220;in this repulsive ideology that has grasped not only our country but our religion8221; or to disprove the stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists: 8220;Instead of saying 8216;yeah, we do have a problem. Lets try to think of ways to fix it8217;, we get incredibly defensive and take offense at anyone lumping us in with terrorists.8221;

Another response illustrates why many Pakistanis are now angry at India. Raza admits finding it hard to sympathise. 8220;Be honest: although you let out an 8216;OMG8217; or a 8216;that looks terrible8217;8230;you snarled under your breath, 8216;they had it coming,8217; or, 8216;whatever8230;the Marriot was worse.8217;.. So why are we chastising Indians for feeling angry and afraid right now?8221; One reason is that 8220;Pakistan deals with this stuff every day8221; but no one sympathises.

8220;Our people are getting killed day by day in this fight, and no one gives a s8230;. So do excuse us for being a just A LITTLE bitter.8221; Still, he hopes those responsible for the attacks are caught.

8220;As Pakistanis, I am sure we will do everything in our power to make sure that this doesn8217;t happen again. But boys, this is one ride you8217;re gonna have to come along for8230;so strap in.8221;

As Indo-Pak relations nosedive, some bloggers offer solutions. Here8217;s one from pitafi.com/2008/12/03/mumbai-tragedy-a-doable-solution/

8220;The best, and perhaps the only, option is that India with the help of the international community probes the matter and compiles the evidence. Then it can provide Pakistan the evidence with the diplomatic request to try the accused. Pakistan government then can ensure that the apex court8217;s full bench tries these element in open and transparent hearings and they are finally brought to the book.8221;