Mumbai attacks: What happened to Pakistan's response?

The Indian media seems to have gone to sleep on the issue of Mumbai attacks. They have got more entertaining characters like Pramod Muthalik whom they are focusing and trying to direct the fury of the youth. IPL also seems to be captivating.

I think it has been clearly established that terrorists from Pakistan were behind the attacks and the Pakistan government had agreed to take action. But what action is being taken? What kind of pressure is the Indian government putting on Pakistan to take action? I don't know and seems like the media doesn't care. If you don't believe me check out the news sites.

How easily do we let things go?

Every year we see:

1. Terror attacks.
2. People dying in the east due to floods.
3. Farmers committing suicide in Andhra Pradesh due to draught.
   
4. Blue line buses killing pedestrians and cyclists.
5. Rich brats driving drunk and killing people.
6. Train accidents killing people.

When it's so easy to predict, why do we see it every single year?

As far as the hindu extremist groups are concerned, I think they should be banned. Nothing more, nothing less.

I have seen at many places where people argue that the people in these groups are cowards and they aren't fighting terrorists, who are the real danger. But think about it, do you really want them to fight terrorists? Do you really want non-state actors to be striking across the border? Aren't you just engendering a new terror outfit, just this time it will be in the name of Ram?

Death by a thousand cuts

With all the media attention surrounding the Mumbai attacks, it's very easy to miss what happened in Assam today. Five people were killed in a train blast. What action is the government taking? I wonder if it will even make tomorrow's newspaper's front page.
Every life is valuable. The Assam incident is NOT "small and isolated". India needs to give an equally strong reply, irrespective of the number or stature of the victims. Otherwise we, as a nation, are slowly going to perish.

Has it ended?

It had stopped raining. The sun was out. Two hundred people had died in the Mumbai terror attacks. The news agencies have fuel to feed themselves for weeks maybe months now. Speculation is and will be rife. People will dole out their quick fix solutions -- I have been guilty of that myself. But as Indians we have seen and have pointed it out before: we might end up forgetting this soon.

People commend the Mumbai spirit; getting back to business. I being a cynic, though please let me know if you think I'm wrong, don't think it has much to do with the spirit as much it has to do with how densely Mumbai is populated. When you have so many people, you only care about those who are in your tribe: people whom you know and interact with, not the faceless strangers whom you see everyday. And if you don't know anyone, or are not yourself impacted by such an attack, it is easy to forget.

The question really is this: do you want to wait for any such future attack to impact you and then take action, or should you take those steps now and prevent you and your loved ones from being affected?

As an individual what can you do? What powers do you have? The answers to both these questions, though many people might tell you otherwise, is NOT "Nothing". I don't know the answers myself but I'm trying to find out. Light a candle, donate blood, donate money, but that's not all that you can do. There has to be more.

Another terrorist attack

I woke up today morning. It was raining. Terror had struck Mumbai. Once again.

In the past one year we have witnessed multiple terror strikes in different parts of India. I can't remember a single terror attack in the U.S. after 9/11. Where are we falling short? Every time this happens I get riled up. The security guards at our office start checking our badges more rigorously. That lasts for a fortnight, maybe a month and it all fades away. This time around, I want to find out how I can help and not be a (im)passive observer.