Dec. 17, 2008:  As rapid bursts of news reports came in revealing the locations of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, I was flooded with vivid recollections of the last trip that Janet, my wife, and I led to India with a group of friends from Bronxville.

We spent several hours shopping in the arcade at the Taj—the Kuhns and the Hicks got customs shirts made at the same shop where Bill Clinton had his suits made; Adrienne Smith was busy buying shoes; the DiGiamos stopped for coffee and tea while the rest of us wandered around the hotel and the Gateway to India, just across the street.

The same day, without official permission, the group strolled through the Sassoon Docks where the terrorists landed to launch their attacks.  Victoria Terminal, the train station where numerous commuters met their deadly fate, was also a place where we stopped to watch the famous “Dhubba Wallas” deliver hot lunches to the scores of office workers in the city.  Many in the community have asked me about these attacks and if I was ever going to lead a trip to India again.  Staying away from India, as we all know too well, is tantamount to capitulating to the terrorists.  We will be taking a group to India in the spring of 2010!

Since the attacks, much has been written about the national and geopolitical repercussions.  What I want to share in this column are personal reflections as one who has a stake in this region.

It is different this time:  Violence, be it communal, religious, or political, is not a new phenomenon in the Indian subcontinent.  There are two interesting differences this time that might influence how these events play out.  First, unlike past instances, the victims of the attacks included the middle class and the elite.  These groups have remained safely ensconced in the past from such bloodshed. 

This change in the victims’ profile may have two consequences.  First, the middle class and the elite have for the most part been politically inactive and do not frequent the polls.  If this segment of the populace is politically energized and reactivated, it could lead to a dynamic that has not been witnessed since the days of the independence struggle.  Second, since this is the “moneyed” class and their money is highly desirable, the politicians could find themselves being held accountable to produce tangible results that could bring about a broader sense of safety and security to the nation at large.

It is also interesting to note that the violence in Mumbai has not been matched with retaliatory strikes against the Muslims in India.  It seems clear that this event is seen as a much larger struggle by the Jihadists to foment regional clashes between India and Pakistan with the aim of establishing Islamic supremacy in the region.  Notwithstanding the tragic loss of lives, if communal peace can be held, this will provide an immensely useful model as India tries to bring greater communal harmony within many of its troubled regions.

The New Jerusalem:  When one examines the conflict between India and Pakistan revolving around Kashmir, there seems to be an underlying Islamic motive to raise Kashmir as the New Jerusalem—the epicenter of the battle between Islam and the “infidels.”  If this Islamic fundamentalist objective succeeds we will see a “hotspot” unlike any other in recent memory.  The geopolitical players are aligned in such a way that this scenario is not farfetched.  America, the granddaddy of “infidels,” has an increasingly friendly and cordial relationship with India.  To add fuel to this fire, India and Israel—the Zionist menace to Islamic objectives—have developed much closer alliances than ever before (the attack on the Jewish Chabbad House reflected this factor).

Finally, India is one of the major supporters of the current administration in Kabul.  This alliance between Amercia, India, Israel, and Kabul makes this region an ideal location to bring on the “mother of all battles.”  Unlike the conflict in Jerusalem, this hotspot brings two nuclear states to the standoff.  It is understandable why this region becomes a place where the international community must focus intently or it risks making this a dream come true for many Islamic radicals.

It is the money, stupid!  Both with Afghanistan and India, the cross-border infiltration and violence have taken place with not only the blessing, but also the tactical support, of the Pakistani intelligence community.  Keeping these alliances alive and functional allows the army to retain its role as a potent player and keep intact its kingmaker role.  However, the military enterprise is funded for the most part by American aid and without this the wheels will soon come off.  This aid money should work both as the stick and the carrot for true reform to take place within the military so that its bloody hands can eventually become stain free.

Another well-known source of money that funded the establishment and promotion of many madrasas in Pakistan is the Middle East and in particular Saudi Arabia.  It has been a convenient ploy for the Saudis to send the trouble “offshore” by funding them as long as they don’t create problems in their own backyards.  As one of America’s allies, the Saudis should be morally held accountable to turn this funding tap off.  American diplomatic energy invested to bring this about will go a long way in cutting off the resources necessary for the fanatic Islamic groups to grow and strike at will.

Finally, the economic ascendancy of India over the past few years has not escaped the notice of the Islamic militants.  The strike at Mumbai, the financial capital of India, was to stall this growth and scare off further international investments.  If you visit any of the five-star hotels in India, you will notice a steady stream of foreign businessmen huddling with their Indian counterparts at all hours of the day.  By specifically targeting these hotels, the intent was to bring India down a notch or two.  The rise of the middle class as well as the growth of the economy in general is critical to strengthen India’s ability to deal with its innumerable social, economic, and infrastructure issues.  It is incumbent upon the international community to see that we help India stay the course in transforming itself and continue to play a role as the largest secular democracy in the world.

What now?  Many of us are skeptical of not only Pakistan’s will but also, more importantly, its ability to curb the chaos within its own borders and prevent it from spilling over on both fronts:  India and Afghanistan.  Past efforts in this regard have met with modest results at best and this does not provide much hope for anything more than a few revolving-door arrests.  This time, there is too much at stake for the international community to not hold Pakistan accountable for a more sustained and diligent effort.

My hope and prayer is that we find the will and steadfastness to make this happen not only for the sake of peace in the Indian subcontinent but also to bring the war on terror to an end.

Editor’s Note:  Dr. Viji George, a native of India, is the President of Concordia College in Bronxville.  He, along with his wife, Janet, has organized and led trips to India for the benefit and pleasure of many Bronxville residents.