Opinion Shell shock

The frequency and intensity of bomb blasts along the length and breadth of Pakistan must have rattled Interior Minister Rehman Malik...

The Indian Express

November 2, 2009 03:03 AM IST First published on: Nov 2, 2009 at 03:03 AM IST

 The frequency and intensity of bomb blasts along the length and breadth of Pakistan must have rattled Interior Minister Rehman Malik to comment that India has been helping the Taliban there. Such incoherent comments are a clear sign of the minister being shell-shocked. A lesson about Pakistani authorities patronage for terrorists and the Taliban is in the pet manual where it says that big cats like the lion or the tiger can be kept only for so long,since when they grow older they invariably turn on their masters.

So is the Taliban teaching a lesson or showing off its skills to its Pakistani masters. Even after the recent spate of terrorist violence,the fact that the US continues to support the Pakistani state is beyond comprehension.

S. Kamat

Goa

Deaf men talking

 India-Pakistan talks are now akin to dialogue between two deaf persons. Even as Pakistan accuses India of fomenting trouble in Balochistan and funding the Taliban,India keeps harping on constructive talks without pre-conditions. However,it needs to be thoroughly analysed whether Pakistans allegations are mere rhetoric or a calibrated move to build favourable international opinion before launching another clandestine terrorist attack on Indian soil. Even otherwise,the impact of our governments reiteration of check terror is wearing thin as Kashmir continues to face militant assaults and the fear of the next attack in India does not diminish.

Y.G. Chouksey

Pune

To waste

 The proposed five-fold increase in MPLADS allocation is typical of our politicians interest in their own welfare for which all of them,even those always at loggerheads otherwise,unite. A major share of this allowance would definitely not reach the intended beneficiaries.

Saral Jhingran

New Delhi

Jerusalem burning?

 It is unfathomable that the recurrent unrest in and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque is individual incidents of violence unrelated to a larger picture. Anyone even slightly versed in this conflict knows that every statement,every move in Jerusalem is laced with political overtones and is a tiny piece of a much larger canvas. So,recent events in Jerusalems Old City can only be viewed as one more link in Israels master plan for the city and for the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa compound in particular. If Israel does decide to inch towards this eventual goal,it should know by now that the backlash will be severe.

Sandeep Ghiya

Mumbai

David Shepherd,RIP

 A cricketing era ends with the demise of David Shepherd,the most respected international umpire after Dickie Bird. A unique feature of his umpiring was Shepherd lifting his left foot whenever the score touched the Nelson mark. The accuracy of his judgment was such that spectators relied upon him more than the technology-driven third umpire.

Mrityunjay Mukherjee

Allahabad