illustration/sameer pawar

It is unfortunate that India is facing hostilities from its neighbouring countries since Independence.

Pakistan has always harboured terrorist elements against India with an intention to destabilise the country.

In the past, we have also faced threats from China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Since we have open borders with Nepal, terrorists use Nepal as an easy entry and exit point. These countries hobnob with terrorists and help them carry out terror acts. They take advantage of  unemployed youth, and of those, who fall easy prey to their influence.

Terrorists then create local groups who cast trouble in all cities across India. They take help from political parties and corrupt officials with bribes. The terrorists that we encounter today are not men who commit such acts out of revenge.

These men work with outfits like the al-Qaeda and the Dawood gangs, and terrorism has become a kind of profession. They are ready to follow any kind of instructions to get money.

More importantly, India's terrorism problem is largely specific to Kashmir. 

There is a difference between terrorists and freedom. India must muster international support on this issue and put pressure on Pakistan to stop supporting these terrorist groups. 

Also, we have no proper coordination between the central intelligence agencies and the states. Whenever a bomb blast occurs, each political party points a finger at another.

sureshiyer@gmail.com