Terrorism has become more sophisticated in the 21st century (Editorial, and “Two Paris gunmen still on the run,” Jan.9), perhaps on account of better organisational capabilities, the use of social media for communication, the consequent spread of ideology and recruitment, military-style training, and linkages with organised crime across national boundaries. It is in this context that the importance of global cooperation against terrorism as articulated in the G-20 talks comes in.
Ratan Betegowda,Bengaluru
What happened in France is tragic, but it is evident that people everywhere are increasingly becoming hypersensitive. Perhaps leaving people to follow/practise their respective religions in whatever form they want as long as they do not encroach on the other’s beliefs and practices is fine. The tragedy is that are many different forms of the same religion and each is basically being interpreted in different ways.
Sheela Chandrachudan,Bengaluru
One must express solidarity with publications such as Charlie Hebdo which play a stellar role in deconstructing religious shibboleths and in adopting a rare and courageous stand in public. The incidents in Paris show that increasingly, sections of society are unable to disown the extremist fringe. Peshawar, and now Paris, reveal a deeply flawed thinking.
Mushtaqh Ali,Chennai
One can say that all this is happening as a result of blindly supporting American foreign policy that makes a distinction between terror groups inimical to it and those that target other nations. The horrible consequences of foreign misadventures in Afghanistan and a subsequent American policy of making a policeman out of Pakistan are what have led to the wilful destabilisation of an entire region from West Asia to North Africa. Strong, secular and efficient regimes have been toppled in Iraq, Egypt and Libya on the pretext of ushering in democracy. The results are there for all to see. It is common knowledge that no fanatical Muslim organisation with a Pan-Islamist agenda has the expertise to manufacture sophisticated weapons or ammunition. Now, flush with American arms and ammunition, aid money, ransom dollars and drug money, one has a spectrum of terror groups such as IS, Boko Haram, al-Qaeda, LeT, TTP and LeJ now threatening the civilised world. The UN can play a significant role in setting up a confederation army of secular democratic nations to crush the menace of Islamic terrorism.
S.K. Moitra,Kolkata
It’s a shame that a country which gave the world its ideals of liberty is now being penalised for the expression of liberty. One cannot help but think of what happened a few days ago, of an average film in India making a mockery of the majoritarian religion and then earning millions, while in contrast, one has bloodshed in Paris on account of paper-based depictions. Liberty and tolerance go hand in hand. It is unfortunate that the world is becoming a slave to fundamentalist thoughts.
Devendra Vijay,New Delhi
