The Number 1 Threat to Southern Asian stability: Indian/ Pakistanian relations

The terror attacks in Mumbai were truly tragic. Since 9-11 this was one of the most deadly attacks. This is similar to previous attacks in tactics, weapons, and the fear that it invoked through out the billion people in India. A conspiracy has sort of been uncovered consisting that the attack was orchestrated by Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshian nationals.

However, again the media are focusing on the wrong aspects of this attack. They are focusing on the few Americans that passed away. The media and even to some extent the U.S. gov't are focusing on the tactics of this attack, even going as far as sending an FBI team to India. There are reports saying the motive of these attacks was because of the Kashmir region. The Kashmir region has been a pain in the side for India and Pakistan for 50 years. These countries both claim ownership of this region, but to make the situation even more "hairy" is that some of the citizens of Kashimir want independence. There have been hundreds of terrorist attacks in this region yet the world barerly cares. If a major attack like this were to be linked directly to the ISS (Secret Police of Pakistan) or to even worse the governement, this could mean destabilization of a region that has had little stabilization. Additionally, both of these countries have nuclear weapons. While India's are bigger and have greater capabilities, any nuclear weapon obviously would cause millions of deaths. Especially with a country of 1.1 billion people.

We, as global citizens, need to bring those who were associated with this attack to justice. More importantly is that we need to solve this Kashmir region dispute. We should allow the people of Kashmir to vote upon which country they would like to be a part of. Further there should be an open migration period following this vote. This would ensure that people can peacefully choose where they would like to live. No migration is warranted and will possible create a refugee flow, but under U.N. supervision and the world watching, this plan could work.