CONTENTS
September 14, 2001
Volume 2, #37
NOTE: This issue focuses on South Asia media coverage of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
1. Reaction to Attacks
2. Foreign Relations
3. Analyses
1. Reaction to Attacks
2. Analyses
Prime Minister A B Vajpayee stated that India’s willingness to cooperate with the United States to fight terrorism was “not conditional.” President K.R. Narayanan expressed “grief and great indignation.” The BJP also expressed its support. Union Home Minister Mr. L.K. Advani called the attacks an assault on humanity and democracy.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, described the terrorist attacks in the U.S. as a “crime against humanity.” The CPI(M) Politburo called the attacks a “barbaric act.” The CPI(ML), the Janata Dal (U) and other parties also condemned the attacks.
Janata Party president Dr. Subramanian Swamy called for pooling information to counter terrorism.
The Deccan Herald carried a compilation of world reactions to the attacks.
A report discusses Indians who were also victims of the attacks.
2. Foreign Relations
Israel’s intelligence services reportedly have played down the possibility of any Palestinian group being involved in the attacks.
“Israeli intelligence rules out Palestinian involvement”
India and Israel commenced a strategic dialogue, including discussion of the threats to their security by terrorism.
“India, Israel begin strategic dialogue”
US Senator Joseph Biden (Democrat), chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that US missile defense plans might fuel an India-Pakistan nuclear arms race.
C. Raja Mohan writes that the attacks in the US will “force the international community to wake up” to the threat of international terrorism.
“Towards a global war against terrorism”
Meenakshi Sinha and Shivajee Ashim Das, in separate analyses, discuss whether India is safe from the same types of attacks witnessed in the United States.
Tushar A. Gandhi contrasts US calls for support following the recent attacks to US ambivalence to previous attacks in India.
“Isn’t This Duplicity?”
Vijay Prashad warns against an anti-Islamist backlash in the wake of the attacks.
“Nothing Good Comes From Terror”
Noam Chomsky discusses how the attacks are “a gift to the hard jingoist right” in the US and may lead to increased US militarization.
“On the Bombings”
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf pledged ‘unstinted cooperation’ with the US following the attacks.
Pakistan placed on high alert regular and paramilitary troops stationed along parts of the Pakistan-Afghan border as a precaution against possible US military strikes against Taliban or Osama bin Laden-controlled military installations inside Afghanistan
Indian media reportedly is trying to implicate Pakistan in the attacks in the US.
Rahimullah Yusufzai discusses whether the US will be satisfied with Pakistani and Taliban denials of involvement with the attacks.
Tahir Mirza discusses implications of possible US reactions to the attacks.
Martin Woollacott discusses linkages between the attacks and global inattention to issues of injustice.
A.B.S. Jafri writes that the attacks expose the world as “a volcano of distress and discontent” and that the US reaction will be a test of its “wisdom.”
Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef condemned the attacks on the US, denied Osama bin Laden’s involvement in the attacks, and stated that the Taliban would not allow bin Laden to use Afghan territory for such activities. He also stated that a US attack on Afghanistan would be highly unjustified.
“Do not rush to conclusions: Taliban”
Indian security experts reportedly are considering whether the attack on Northern Alliance Commander Ahmad Shah Massood was carried out to divert international attention away from the subsequent attacks in the US.