The wheel of terrorists has covered, as reported in this Newsletter, besides Iraq, countries like Nepal, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Spain, Russia as also UK. The omission of the US in this list is striking. While the blasts in London on July 7 has attracted more attention, the attempt at Ayodhya temple in India on July 5, 2005, was equally eloquent. The steady growth of left-extremist-led violence in different states of India and especially in Orissa, would also warrant attention.
There was, however, a few positive aspects as well. The IRA has since bidden ‘farewell to arms’. A global survey shows gradual abhorrence of violence on the part of the majority of the Muslims. Muslim clerics have issued fatwa against terrorist tactics. Who will now build on these advantages?
Two other interesting developments: the Saudi government has outlawed the use of private security guards from other countries and the Supreme Court of India has struck down the Illegal Migration (Determination by Tribunals) Act, thus removing a great anomaly of having two sets of rules for foreigners in one country.
July 2005 was thus a mixed bag of gains ad losses. It is a different matter how one looks at these. Let us arrive at our own conclusions.
D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India
Editor-cum-Executive President & CEO
International Institute of Security and Safety Management
New Delhi, India
