As a victim of terrorism for more than a decade, India has reasons to welcome the recognition of this menace by the international community after the devastation in America.

That the acknowledgement of a peril which has long been evident in this country should have come at such a terrible cost is something to be regretted. But India, too, has paid a heavy price in the last 10 years in Kashmir, which has lost its reputation as a tourist paradise because of the insurgency. Other parts of India have also borne the brunt of terrorist attacks. Both the civilians and the security forces have suffered.

None of this, however, had an impact on world opinion presumably because the terrorist outrages in Kashmir were seen as a continuation of the kind of disturbances which India has experienced in the North-east and for a time in Punjab. It is also possible that since India has witnessed many other kinds of violence as well, such as communal riots and casteist feuds, apart from the depredations of the Naxalite gangs, the international community was not bothered too much about what was happening in Kashmir. There was also a misperception about the events in Kashmir being a struggle for self-determination. It was believed that all would be well if only the Indian security forces withdrew. After what has happened in the US, however, the nature of the subversion in Kashmir should become apparent to the rest of the world.

The jehadis, however, have never made any secret of their objective, which has nothing to do with ‘freedom’ for the Kashmiris. Their aim is the establishment of a Taliban-style rule. The threat posed by them is manifold — to democracy, to multiculturalism and even to the concept of a ‘moderate’ Islamic state which Pakistan claims to represent. Now, however, India’s cry in the wilderness is likely to be taken more seriously. New Delhi should seize the moment and present to the outside world the information it has about the terrorist training camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the militants’ modes of operation, including the support provided by the ISI. Since the menace has been identified, no effort should be spared to ensure its complete eradication.