Terrorist Attack on Cricketers in Pakistan-My Perspective

The question being asked and vastly debated in the various news channels right from the time the news on the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan Cricketers in the heart of Lahore took place is whether " Pakistan is on the brink". To my mind which is backed by history and statistics the Islamic State of Pakistan has never been stable right form the time of Partition till date and has always been living on the edge and therefore the present incident only amplifies this sad but bitter truth. Pakistan is in an identical state to put it in simple terms as that of a man who has been been bitten by his pet who he nurtured with great care in his own home but unfortunately does not have the ready made rabies vaccine to be administered on its political and fanatical leaders to come out of the sting. The leaders of Pakistan for several decades now have been diverting the minds of their subjects to far less but sentimental and populist issues like " India Bashing" and "American Appeasement" without actually getting into the thrust areas of economic development and the country now appears to be paying a price for this.

If we recall the popular saying that certain people like to live and die by the sword it is very apt to most of the citizens of Pakistan who have to pray today for a 'disaster free day'. I am sure that there will be a silver lining emerging somewhere out of the latest incident in the form of the people of Pakistan genuinely feeling that they will be economically if not politically isolated if they allow the Jihadis to rule their mindsets by rhetoric based on falsehood and religious fanaticism.

They say that Cricket is a religion in the sub continent and the dastardly act which occured on Tuesday the 3rd of March only proves once again that Terrorists do not have or respect any religion including Cricket if it is considered one in this part of the world.

If one saw the Interview of Imran Khan the Pakistani Cricketing great turned politician on NDTV on Wednesday night , his face turned red with embarassment when he was reminded about his comment before Sri Lanka embarked on the tour to Pakistan that Terrorists would not harm cricketers and therefore they should feel safe in touring Pakistan. Further Shahid Afridi's comment that his beautiful country is being hemmed in from all sides only demonstrates the sign of despair emerging even among the affluent and elite in Pakistan.

As far as Sri Lanka is concerned while our heart goes out to their cricketers who went to Pakistan ready to ride the Tiger in the form of a threat perception from terrorists , it is lesson to be learnt that do not venture to fight the tiger in the neighbouring country until you have first tamed your own tiger which we all know is over from far but far from over.

In conclusion it is about time for the citizens of Pakistan to rise above partisan politics and religious fanaticism and concentrate on economic development being a nation endowed with substantial and rich natural resources.