Bomb blast syndrome reaches alarming proportion

Whether it is in train stations, cultural functions or cinema halls, it seems none is safe in any of the main South Asian countries since common people are being targeted for achieving so-called political or other sinister objectives. The trend is growing menacingly, forcing many to wonder: whither safety!

In fact, it is not only South Asia, but Asia as a whole, and in larger perspective the world itself is witnessing despicable bomb blasts that are mainly claiming innocent lives. The number of men, women and even children who have perished in recent times in mindless violence with which they have no links or even inkling whatsoever is far too high.

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Indeed, it is an unbearable spectacle since such people are deliberately and meticulously executed. The perpetrators certainly consider it an easy method since common people are not protected by security as such. In the process, the architects of such violence are hardly remorseful about killing the innocents as they are more hell-bent on carrying out their own "agenda" in a bid to advance their objective of settling scores with those they consider their perceived enemies. In any case, killing of the innocents can never be condoned no matter what are the objectives, and such acts definitely deserves unqualified condemnation.

True, the advanced nations and even the most powerful nation in the world, the United States, could not prevent acts of terrorism that took thousands of lives. Several Asian countries beyond this region are also experiencing bomb blasts or similar kind of violence, victims of which are normally the innocent people. Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and some others had enough of this in recent years.

But it is the South Asia where such acts are taking place in quicker frequency and the toll of lives lost or the numbers of injured are also much higher. And more importantly, along with the major cities, the relatively obscure areas are also being targeted, which is rather uncommon in other regions. This sends a clear message that even if the big cities or important places are protected, yet such acts can be carried out in remote areas.

Obviously, such areas cannot be taken care of from security point of view as much as it is possible in heartland. In Bangladesh, cultural functions or cinema halls in far-flung districts were targeted. Needless to say, these are easy targets where the perpetrators have less risk in carrying out their designs.

All major nations of South Asia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have been the victims of bomb blasts whose main casualties have been the poor civilians. All these nations are experiencing varying degrees of such mayhem on different "reasons" from the perpetrators' side.

In India, it is generally believed to be because of a long-drawn separatist movement in Kashmir and also to an extent for the insurgency in parts like the north-east and "Naxalites" in some areas. In Pakistan the menace stems from a variety of issues ranging from hardcore religious groups opposed to pro-American president Gen. Pervez Musharraf fallout of the Afghan imbroglio to Shia-Sunni differences.

Nepal has it largely because of the "Maoist" armed struggle, which is now on the wane due to change in the political landscape and the trend is also currently on the decline in Bangladesh after a horrifying spell in recent past when even the judges were killed by blasts.

There is no respite in Sri Lanka where a government-Tamil Tiger hostility is in place and at the same time bomb explosions targeting the civilians are not uncommon. Most of these acts are carried out with accurate precision and timing. In Bangladesh not long ago all but one districts including the capital city was the scene of deliberate orchestrated blasts, albeit of minor scale.

The terrorists seem to go to any length for carrying out their plans when loss of human lives is simply no concern to them. While any form of deliberate violent act merits condemnation, targeting the innocent civilians is certainly much more heinous in nature. It is assumed that the perpetrators of these acts are mostly driven by their "own politics."

When big cities like New Delhi, Karachi, or Mumbai are the targets, it is evidently being done with certain clear design. Undeniably, different objectives work behind all these acts which have also political overtones. When Indian parliament was attacked in 2001, New Delhi unhesitatingly blamed clandestine armed outfits in Kashmir and neighbouring Pakistan for aiding and abetting the act and this had brought two countries on the brink of a war.

This time, however, a clear accusation is not there even though fingers are being raised at some quarterswhether it is Muslim separatists in Kashmir or the Mumbai underworld. It is probably for the reason that in recent years Pakistan itself is fighting against extremists and its president himself escaped death narrowly more than once presumably from these outfits.

A reconciliatory efforts is in place between the two countries and New Delhi appears not to scuttle it by blaming Islamabad this time instantly without investigation and incontrovertible evidence. However, Mumbai blast is likely to put fresh pressure on Pakistan to rein in Kashmiri outfits.

Governments in South Asia are in agreement to combat terrorism and have discussed some methods at summit level under the aegis of the Saarc. But these ideas and actions need to be more concrete and action-oriented so that the region's countries can fight terrorism in concert in an ambience of full cooperation since all are alarmed by the scale of violence and are determined to wipe it out at any cost.

For particularly bomb blasts, they need to tackle it with special emphasis and can also share all experiences and information including any accusation against each other if they have. Terrorists do not belong to any community and as such must be seen as enemy of humanity and need to be eliminated through collective efforts. And the time is more than ripe to sit up and deal with the dangerous phenomenon.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is a senior journalist.