SOME people in India are rejoicing over the hanging of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught alive during the Mumbai attacks. But I wonder why such a sense of jubilation. Ajmal was just an illiterate young boy brainwashed for jihad. He went to Mumbai to cause death to as many as possible and then die. As long as his ideologists, financiers and handlers remained out of reach of the law, merely hanging a lone terrorist won’t achieve anything.

This is equally applicable on both sides of the border. Pakistan has lost over 40,000 civilians and military personnel during the last decade, while home-grown terrorists are still roaming the streets of Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and elsewhere with impunity. Pakistan is unable to catch real culprits.

What about Samjhauta Express bombers, instigators and killers of Muslims after the demolition of Babri Mosque, Mumbai riots of 1992-93, Gujarat riots of 2002, and the list goes on?

Unless we get away with the philosophy of hatred, which is being used by the trainers to inject a sense of achievement and after-life reward, nothing will change. Statements, vows, speeches, etc., won’t work anymore unless we open our eyes and see the real enemy who wants to push both the countries to the Stone Age.

MASOOD KHAN Jubail, Saudi Arabia