With the formation of the state of Israel after WW 2 , the people of the Middle East started reviving their old traditions of terrorism. Terrorism during the days of the Crusades ( 1100 - 1300 ) were murders of prominent individuals in the opposite camp carried out for fanatical motives or to be more precise as a matter of religious duty.These murders were the handiwork of secret Muslim sects whose members were known in Arabic as hashshasins i.e. smokers of hashish for its intoxicating effects and this term was incorporated in English language as assassins. Modern day terrorism is different from the terrorism in Crusade's days.It now believes in mass killing of women, children and elderly people as well. These murderers use modern day technology and are armed with the latest weapons,no doubt, financed by oil magnates in the Middle East. I am of the opinion that armed forces of any country cannot be very effective against treacherously sudden attacks by well motivated cutthroats. All these post war years terrorism was confined to the Middle East region but now it would appear that it has crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and are establishing their bases in West Punjab and Kashmir region. The onus for fighting terrorism in the Indian sub-continent rests in the hands of the armed forces who have to a lot of brainstorming in devising ways and means to meet the challenge of the new scourge.
Antonio
