OPINION: The aftermath is even more terrifying.

from BUSINESS LINE, December 02, 2008 Even as we, the citizens of India, resolve never to forget the bloody and petrifying 59-hour siege on Mumbai and take a pledge to compel those responsible for our security - not only politicians but also our intelligence agencies and others who have been lax in guarding our borders, such as the Coast Guard, and probably even the Indian Navy - what is going to be much more important is our response to the post-Mumbai events.

In the anger, all of it justified, and the jingoism, not all justified because clearly diverse agendas are being pushed here, that follows the Mumbai carnage, one wrong step can end up doing much more harm than good.

The unprecedented siege on Mumbai has exposed the several chinks in our armour in guarding our borders. Anguished and angry voices, including those of Indian Muslims, particularly youngsters, asked in disbelief: "So, anybody can take a ship/boat from Karachi, armed to the teeth, and come into Mumbai and kill our own people on our own soil? Is India such a soft target for terrorists?" Unfortunately, the answer is a sad 'Yes'. One horrific truth that emerged from this carnage was that, after 9/11 and other murderous attacks in Europe - London and Madrid, in particular - as those countries have secured their borders and scaled up security, backed by impeccable intelligence, Islamic terrorists are seeking out and killing Americans, British and Israelis …