http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=116819&d=30&m=11&y=2008
Saudis, expats deplore Mumbai mayhem
Ghazanfar Ali Khan | Arab News
RIYADH: Saudis, Pakistanis and Indians alike deplored the Mumbai attacks,
saying they were well coordinated and launched by terrorists to create
insecurity in India, in particular and in the subcontinent in general. Many
Indians raised accusing fingers at Pakistan, while most Pakistanis contacted by
Arab News believed that such kind of attacks could not have been possible
without local logistics support, even if some foreign elements were involved.
"The well-planned and very orchestrated attacks, probably, were intended
to create a sense of panic by choosing high-profile targets and
indiscriminately killing innocent people," said Adnan Jaber, business
development manager at Saudi Specialized Publishing Company. "It is evident
that the terrorists had come with single-minded determination to create havoc
in the financial capital of India."
Referring to the attacks, Riaz Mehdi, president of the Riyadh-based
Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), said: "We were shocked
and greatly disturbed at the dastardly act of terrorism and mayhem perpetrated
by the terrorists at so many places in Mumbai. We are deeply aggrieved by the
loss of so many innocent lives at the hands of the barbarians."
"It was a crime against humanity which no religion or community permits,"
he said, adding that they have sent a letter of solidarity to Rajeev Shahare,
deputy chief of the Indian mission, in this hour of grief.
But, Pakistanis differed in the views. "The problem is India's
intentions; every time some attacks take place in India, they start blaming
Pakistan," said Naeem Jameel, a senior executive working for Hana Al-Meshari
Company, who strongly condemned the attacks in Mumbai.
In Jeddah, a cross-section of citizens and expatriates said they were
shell-shocked by the kind of terrorism that was unleashed in Mumbai for 59
hours. "We as a nation condemn the Mumbai attacks. Terrorist actions are a
hindrance to the progress of any country. Pakistan as a nation condemns it and
sympathizes with India. However, without proper investigation India has blamed
Pakistan. In the bomb blasts in Malegaon that took place in recent months, too,
they blamed Pakistan but investigations proved otherwise; their own military
officers were involved in it. They should make complete investigation before
indulging in a blame game," said Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, a former Pakistani
federal minister.
Some of the Pakistanis contacted said their country was also a victim of
terrorism and wanted the two countries to cooperate and collaborate in fighting
terrorism. "Pakistan has also been a victim of terrorism and we should make
unified efforts to combat it rather than blame each other. I take exception to
(Indian Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh's statement blaming Pakistan for the
Mumbai attacks before completing a thorough investigation. Pakistan also has
had terrorist attacks, including one at Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, but we did
not comment until investigations were over. Pakistan has been grappling with
its own terrorist experience. So we should help each other in combating
terrorism rather than blaming each other," said Ehsanul Haque, convener of
Pakistan Repatriation Council.
All India Sunni Jami'athul Ulema General Secretary Kanthapuram A.P.
Aboobacker Musliyar, a popular scholar from India's southern state of Kerala
who is currently in Saudi Arabia for Haj, said to Arab News, speaking from
Madinah: "It is a heinous crime against humanity. All of us, irrespective of
religion, should close ranks. We should not allow a few misguided, disgruntled
and communal elements to play havoc in society. It is the primary duty of the
state and the central governments to unravel the truth. Complete truth. Whoever
is behind these attacks should be unmasked."
- With input by K.S. Ramkumar
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"newsline" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/newsline?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
