I must confess that I admire the Sikh community who had the courage to condemn Khalistanis for the stoning of the Divali program in Brampton, Canada. This is unlike the Muslim community in places such as Kashmir where the majority Muslim community fails to condemn the murder of Indian soldiers and civilians by cross border terrorists sponsored by Pakistan. It is not that Muslims are insensitive to killings. It is an established reality that when Muslims are the predators, the community is silent but when Muslims are at the receiving end as we are witnessing in the Palestine-Israel conflict, Muslims across the world can be very vocal. This was played out across the world in several protests against Israel’s aggression against Palestine. Even in Kashmir Muslims joined in mass protest on the streets in their thousand but has never for one moment protested the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan that results in the killing of Indian soldiers and other law-abiding citizens.
Crime does not happen in a vacuum but is aided by an entire ecosystem. In our villages we can testify to criminal elements who are protected by their families. It is no shock that when these adharmic people fall victims to the very traps that they have laid down, only then their families come to their senses. This behavior is nothing but backwardness and must be dealt with ruthlessly. If law-abiding citizens don’t take a firm stand against crime and lawlessness, chaos would reign supreme with economic and social development being sidelined.
None can deny that most victims of terrorism are Muslims. It is therefore critical that the Islamic world call out terrorism. Unfortunately, this is not being done. Am I to conclude that Muslims are on a road to destruction? And if so, only they alone have the power in their hands to save themselves. It is urgent that the majority sober and sane Muslims join hands, even though few, to condemn this extremism that is a rapidly growing cancer.
Terrorism has now backfired against Muslims, and they must eliminate it to save themselves. Pakistan which is a known sponsor of terrorism is suffering from the gravest political and social upheavals. Its economy is in the doldrum and recently the IMF has loaned them some money only because the US needs its ammunition to replenish the Ukraine war chest. Pakistan is today in a situation that no nation with some pride and dignity would like to be. It is the inevitable fate of a people who have failed to see the beam in their eyes!
The Muslim world should learn from the majority Sikh community that has chosen not to identify with a small band of Khalistani terrorists and drug peddlers. Their leaders are coming out and condemning the wrongs of the Khalistanis. It is never too late for the Muslim leaders to condemn acts of terrorism perpetrated by a few. One must compliment those Arabs who have chosen to settle and work in Israel. They are demonstrating that the Arabs and the Jews can live together in one nation.