A Strategic Response To The Mumbai Attacks

“In all these attacks there appears to be an attempt to derail existing processes and relationships. Extremism survives by generating responses that are themselves extreme. With every person killed even those that commit terrorist acts somewhere in the world families grieve and sympathizers are angered."

(November 28, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “The National Peace Council strongly condemns the terrorist acts in Mumbai which have thus far killed over a hundred people and injured several hundred others. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, sustained injuries or have been otherwise affected by the attacks, said the National Peace Council in a press statement.

According to the Statement, “given the pain, anger and fear that these attacks have caused, it may be tempting to urge immediate military retaliation against the group deemed to be responsible. However, as difficult as it is to make any sense of such a tragedy, and as easy as it is to attribute these attacks to mere insanity, it is essential to obtain an understanding of the motivations behind such outrageous violence. These acts are the latest in a consistent and intensifying series of terrorist attacks not only in India, but throughout the world. This phenomenon suggests that similar tragedies are likely to recur in the future unless a new strategic response is formulated.”

“In all these attacks there appears to be an attempt to derail existing processes and relationships. Extremism survives by generating responses that are themselves extreme. With every person killed even those that commit terrorist acts somewhere in the world families grieve and sympathizers are angered. This grief and anger are the catalysts that strengthen terrorist movements.”

“The National Peace Council believes that mere military retaliation will not end terrorism, but only intensify the cycle of violence and create more terrorists. The experience throughout the world, in India, Sri Lanka and elsewhere indicates that it is by investigating the reasons why perpetrators are willing to turn to extremism, join terrorist groups and give up their own lives can we address the root causes of terrorism and save the lives of countless innocent civilians throughout the world in the future.” - Sri Lanka Guardian