Ajmal Kasab’s hanging could not act as a deterrent for Pakistan

Sushmita Dutta

The lone terrorist to be captured alive during the horrific 2008 Mumbai terror attacks Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was executed this day, last year — November 21, 2012. The grainy image of a young boy, who created hell on the streets of financial capital of India killing innocent people, has been etched on the mind of every Indian. Kasab was hung as stealthy as his arrival into Indian territory. The procedure lasted a fortnight, starting with President Pranab Mukherjee’s rejection of his mercy plea and ending with Kasab’s hanging at the Pune’s Yerwada jail ‘faasi yard’. Justice was finally delivered. His hanging provided a sense of reprisal to the families who lost their loved ones on that fateful night. The hanging was received positively not only by the families of 26/11 victims but also from the entire nation. A year has now passed since this perpetrator of the attack was hanged, but the mastermind behind the entire operation —Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, still roams free in Pakistan. Kasab might have been the face of Mumbai attacks but the brains which hatched such a devious plot are supposedly safely residing in Pakistan. Like Kasab, many other youngsters are brain-washed and used to create an atmosphere of terror and destroy India’s peace. However, unless these masterminds are brought to justice, the hanging of Kasab will have achieved precious little. The execution could not act as a potent deterrent. Politicians, bureaucrats and experts had opined that death sentence would teach Pakistan and the terror organisations a lesson not to meddle with India. But many more barbaric incidents executed from Pakistani soil even after the execution have proved that both our neighbours and the terrorists surely are in no mood to relent. Indian soldiers beheaded at LoC Year 2013 had just seen its dawn, when the breach of trust begun. Reportedly, Pakistani troops on January 09, 2013 slit throats of two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans who were patrolling in Jammu and Kashmir`s Poonch sector. According to security agencies` reports the Pakistani infiltrators had intruded the post close to the fence near the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On the other hand, while adhering the LoC, the Indian Army has erected a three-tier fence, which is about two kilometres inside the Indian territory. In spite of that, the infiltrators from across the border sneaked in using fog as a cover and killed brutally Indian soldiers in an act of sheer cowardice. Almost a year gone, the question remains that if the Pakistani officials cannot stop terror outfits from using their soil, as they claim, then how will they ever be able protect their own country? Sarabjit Singh made scapegoat Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh who was lodged in Pakistan’s Kot Lakhpat jail for 23 years was suddenly attacked by jail inmates on April 26, 2013. The incident happened just months after the hanging of Ajmal Kasab and Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. Guru was executed on February 09, 2013 for his role in the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. It seems the people in our neighbouring country were so angered that they fatally attacked Sarabjit! After Sarabjit’s long-drawn suffering, Pakistan didn’t even let him die in peace. On May 01, 2013 he succumbed to his injuries in a Lahore hospital. Sarabjit’s body was brought back to his village Bhikiwind amidst tears and angst and was finally laid to rest in his hometown. Despite all the attempts to cover up by Pakistan, an autopsy conducted by the Indian government soon exposed the premeditated butchery leading to Sarabjit’s death. The autopsy report showed that he had fractures in his skull and body while his vital organs were also missing. The two-decade long saga of bereavement, apathy and hope finally came to an end. Sarabjit Singh arrived back in India but in a coffin. As long as Sarabjit lived, Pakistan made his life a living hell. Even in death they refused to let him rest in peace. Six months down the lane, Pakistan is still due to pay for its crimes. Hafiz Saeed’s cowardly challenge The way Hafiz Saeed has been seen giving speeches in Pakistan, it is evident the freedom he enjoys there. While not letting the fire of animosity douse, Hafiz Saeed made a provocative speech in Lahore on Pakistan’s Independence Day, thumbing his nose at India’s demand to Pakistan for handing him over. He almost mocked at India and said, “You (India) look to be very eager to get me. Don`t worry, I myself will visit India. Catch me if you can.” So much for Pakistan ensuring justice to perpetrators of hate! Unusual increase in ceasefire violations Over a hundred ceasefire violations this year clearly show that the hanging of Ajmal Kasab has not changed anything in Pakistan. Moreover the violations also make it clear that Pakistan surely is not too eager to establish amicable relations with India. The constant ceasefire violations by Pakistan have put lives, of hundreds of residents in the border areas of Jammu, in danger. According to Army records there have been 120 violations along the LoC until September 2013, which is the highest in last eight years. Some experts on Indo-Pak affairs believe that these ceasefire violations are more like cover-fire, to facilitate infiltration of armed intruders into Jammu & Kashmir, while others believe that Pakistan indulges in such nefarious tactics just to keep the Kashmir issue alive and kicking at international forums. Had Pakistan truly wanted to improve relations with India as it claims, why is it increasing number of infiltration bids? Narendra Modi on Indian Mujahideen’s hit list? The recent blasts in Gaya and Patna have shown that attacks by terror organisations will keep happening and Kasab’s hanging was not enough to strike fear in hearts of the terrorists. Recently, Indian Mujahideen co-founder and mastermind of several blasts, Yasin Bhatkal during an interrogation reportedly told Bihar police that Bharatiya Janata Party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi tops the hit-list of this terror organisation. In a nut-shell, the executions of Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru don`t seem to have deterred Pakistan or changed its attitude. Recently, in spite of a backlash from the entire political class in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended a bilateral-talk with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in the US. But till date, our neighbours don’t seem to be listening.