Admist a lot of fanfare and revelry recently was Kasab's hanging celebrated. The celebration of sending the lone 26/11 surviving terrorist to the gallows. Thought that celebrating the loss of life was a characteristic of the more uneducated, intolerant and belligerent of the Pakistanis. A little amazed to see its prevalence with relatively educated and self proclaimed responsible Indians.
For me personally, Kasab's execution means nothing. Neither in terms of revenge nor in terms of decisiveness and justice. It also helps one understand how the media manipulates to build onto a public view convenient to their interest. Since Kasab's arrest the media has widely been reporting his perverse behaviour . We've been told that Kasab would settle for nothing less than the glutinous kebabs for lunch and dinner. He has no remorse whatsoever and has said if given a chance he would repeat what he did on the night of 26/11. But when you watch his interrogation videos shot immediately after his capture on 26/11 (available on youtube), not only is he willfully cooperating with the interrogators but is shameful and gutted at what he's ended up doing at the behest of money and misinterpretation of religion. " Allah mujhe kabhi maaf nahin karega" are his words as he breaks down frequently during the interrogation. This is also substantiated by what is now being reported in the media. Among his last words were "Allah kasam, maaf kar do. aisi galti dobara nahin hogi". But the negative reporting in the media made sure that those who would have given mercy a thought, since Kasab was nothing more than an indoctrinated 21 year old foot soldier available in plenty in the destitute villages of Sindh and the Punjab in Pakistan and not a mastermind, were never really given a chance.
I personally feel he should have been allowed to live. A life behind the bars but perhaps, as per the correct interpretation of his own religion. If he could be indoctrinated into being a killing machine, he could certainly be doctrinated back into following the righteous path set by 'God' which he was told he was following earlier, or atleast could have tried to, especially when he was showing signs of remorse and regret.
I'am aware that a lot of people argue that crores of rupees have been spent to keep him alive. But then, ofcourse Indians had to. He indeed was a prize catch and his capture had led us to every minute details of the attack which otherwise might not have been possible.
There was another argument that Kasab must be hanged at the earliest as his accomplices in Pakistan could kidnap, hijack plane, buses, VIP's etc. to have him released out of prison. Now people who argue this are not only poorly read but lack common sense too. Was Kasab the mastermind of the attacks? Their Leader? The insinuator? No, he was just another sacrificial lamb manipulated and programmed by his masters to carry out their orders who claim to be following the Holy Quran by killing innocent and unarmed civilians. There are scores of such sacrificial lambs readily available in Pakistan, who primarily due to their extremely poor economic conditions have been indoctrinated or are being indoctrinated with misinterpreted versions of the Holy Quran. Would the leaders of these terrorist outfits based in Pakistan then, take a risk of enormous proportions to kidnap or hijack only to get someone released who's replacement is readily available back at home?
Another theory that had been doing the rounds prior to his execution was that he may never be hanged due to the minority vote bank politics of the Congress Party. Now this absurd theory could well have been propagated by the ruling party themselves. Notwithstanding the pictorial evidence against Kasab, the fact that he was not an Indian but a Pakistani, no muslic cleric, individual, imam or Islamic organisation would vouch for his innocence or indicate that he may have been falsely implicated. The Muslims of Pakistan are not the vote bank of the cult to which parties such as Congress, Samajwadi Party belong. Though has it been an Indian muslim who would have been implicated, things could have been a lot different. Prima Facie example is the Batla House encounter in New Delhi.
Therefore by executing the hanging of Kasab, Congress would now want to be seen as having got a better of BJP which keeps accusing it of vote bank politics and minority appeasement.
Having read extensively on the subject and having seen what had been going on, i get a sense that India and Pakistan have come to an unconventional, unofficial, back door deal or an understanding wherein India would look beyond 26/11 (statements in the media notwithstanding) in which Pakistan's senior intelligence and army officials are known to be involved, acting against whom would be very embarrassing for the Pakistan Government. In return, Pakistan would limit its use of proxies against India and Indian investments and interests in foreign land, such as in Afghanistan and would try to dismantle infrastructure and sanctuaries aimed at another 26/11 styled attack on Indian soil. Though their support for the freedom for Kashmir from the Indian occupation shall continue. This for India, could prove to be playing with fire for several reasons. One, the above back door deal may not have a unanimous approval of the top brass of ISI and the Pakistani army. Secondly elections are due in Pakistan next year and all such understanding may fall flat on its face with a change in government. Thirdly, Pakistan is well known for not keeping its promises and is a serial promise offender. In such a case, sooner or later, the demand for justice for 26/11 too could vanish in thin air, just as the demand for 93 blasts in Mumbai have, thanks to a continual use of extremism as a tool of their foreign policy.
The urgency and swiftness with which the Indian Government has carried out the execution of Kasab, gives strength to the above argument. It was earlier this year when Pakistan had sent its judicial commission to collect certain evidence and cross examine the witnesses for its 26/11 trial in an anti terrorism court in Pakistan. The Indian Government didnot allow the judicial commission to cross examine the witnesses then, which resulted in quashing of case against the 26/11 accused in the Pakistani court. Now, after the hanging of Kasab, India has invited the Pakistani judicial commission again to cross examine the witnesses so that the trial in the Pakistani court can proceed. But with Kasab now dead, a major witness has been eliminated who's statement could have gone a long way in convicting all the accused in Pakistan.
For me personally, Kasab's execution means nothing. Neither in terms of revenge nor in terms of decisiveness and justice. It also helps one understand how the media manipulates to build onto a public view convenient to their interest. Since Kasab's arrest the media has widely been reporting his perverse behaviour . We've been told that Kasab would settle for nothing less than the glutinous kebabs for lunch and dinner. He has no remorse whatsoever and has said if given a chance he would repeat what he did on the night of 26/11. But when you watch his interrogation videos shot immediately after his capture on 26/11 (available on youtube), not only is he willfully cooperating with the interrogators but is shameful and gutted at what he's ended up doing at the behest of money and misinterpretation of religion. " Allah mujhe kabhi maaf nahin karega" are his words as he breaks down frequently during the interrogation. This is also substantiated by what is now being reported in the media. Among his last words were "Allah kasam, maaf kar do. aisi galti dobara nahin hogi". But the negative reporting in the media made sure that those who would have given mercy a thought, since Kasab was nothing more than an indoctrinated 21 year old foot soldier available in plenty in the destitute villages of Sindh and the Punjab in Pakistan and not a mastermind, were never really given a chance.
I personally feel he should have been allowed to live. A life behind the bars but perhaps, as per the correct interpretation of his own religion. If he could be indoctrinated into being a killing machine, he could certainly be doctrinated back into following the righteous path set by 'God' which he was told he was following earlier, or atleast could have tried to, especially when he was showing signs of remorse and regret.
I'am aware that a lot of people argue that crores of rupees have been spent to keep him alive. But then, ofcourse Indians had to. He indeed was a prize catch and his capture had led us to every minute details of the attack which otherwise might not have been possible.
There was another argument that Kasab must be hanged at the earliest as his accomplices in Pakistan could kidnap, hijack plane, buses, VIP's etc. to have him released out of prison. Now people who argue this are not only poorly read but lack common sense too. Was Kasab the mastermind of the attacks? Their Leader? The insinuator? No, he was just another sacrificial lamb manipulated and programmed by his masters to carry out their orders who claim to be following the Holy Quran by killing innocent and unarmed civilians. There are scores of such sacrificial lambs readily available in Pakistan, who primarily due to their extremely poor economic conditions have been indoctrinated or are being indoctrinated with misinterpreted versions of the Holy Quran. Would the leaders of these terrorist outfits based in Pakistan then, take a risk of enormous proportions to kidnap or hijack only to get someone released who's replacement is readily available back at home?
Another theory that had been doing the rounds prior to his execution was that he may never be hanged due to the minority vote bank politics of the Congress Party. Now this absurd theory could well have been propagated by the ruling party themselves. Notwithstanding the pictorial evidence against Kasab, the fact that he was not an Indian but a Pakistani, no muslic cleric, individual, imam or Islamic organisation would vouch for his innocence or indicate that he may have been falsely implicated. The Muslims of Pakistan are not the vote bank of the cult to which parties such as Congress, Samajwadi Party belong. Though has it been an Indian muslim who would have been implicated, things could have been a lot different. Prima Facie example is the Batla House encounter in New Delhi.
Therefore by executing the hanging of Kasab, Congress would now want to be seen as having got a better of BJP which keeps accusing it of vote bank politics and minority appeasement.
Having read extensively on the subject and having seen what had been going on, i get a sense that India and Pakistan have come to an unconventional, unofficial, back door deal or an understanding wherein India would look beyond 26/11 (statements in the media notwithstanding) in which Pakistan's senior intelligence and army officials are known to be involved, acting against whom would be very embarrassing for the Pakistan Government. In return, Pakistan would limit its use of proxies against India and Indian investments and interests in foreign land, such as in Afghanistan and would try to dismantle infrastructure and sanctuaries aimed at another 26/11 styled attack on Indian soil. Though their support for the freedom for Kashmir from the Indian occupation shall continue. This for India, could prove to be playing with fire for several reasons. One, the above back door deal may not have a unanimous approval of the top brass of ISI and the Pakistani army. Secondly elections are due in Pakistan next year and all such understanding may fall flat on its face with a change in government. Thirdly, Pakistan is well known for not keeping its promises and is a serial promise offender. In such a case, sooner or later, the demand for justice for 26/11 too could vanish in thin air, just as the demand for 93 blasts in Mumbai have, thanks to a continual use of extremism as a tool of their foreign policy.
The urgency and swiftness with which the Indian Government has carried out the execution of Kasab, gives strength to the above argument. It was earlier this year when Pakistan had sent its judicial commission to collect certain evidence and cross examine the witnesses for its 26/11 trial in an anti terrorism court in Pakistan. The Indian Government didnot allow the judicial commission to cross examine the witnesses then, which resulted in quashing of case against the 26/11 accused in the Pakistani court. Now, after the hanging of Kasab, India has invited the Pakistani judicial commission again to cross examine the witnesses so that the trial in the Pakistani court can proceed. But with Kasab now dead, a major witness has been eliminated who's statement could have gone a long way in convicting all the accused in Pakistan.
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