After the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, many people in India are fed up with India's passive approach to the terrorist threat. Suggestions to incorporate surgical strikes into the heartland of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir to eliminate the terror camps have been making the rounds if not attacking Pakistan full scale. However, the Indian leadership has displayed a surprising amount of level headedness by not playing politics and attacking Pakistan and is unlikely to do so. Pakistan has had countless attacks on its soil and thousands of her people have been killed by these same elements. It is difficult to imagine the Pakistani leadership in cahoots with sociopaths such as Lakshar-e-Toiba as one of its own leaders has lost a wife to their brethren. At worst, the leadership is weak and not in control of its territory.

President Zardari had previously made overtures towards India by making some friendly remarks that were uncharacteristic of a Pakistani premier. It makes sense that in order for Pakistan to maintain some kind of stability they need to stop making India the center of their decision making process. Thus, care should be taken to bolster the Pakistani government so that it can strengthen iand establish itself as a nation that can take care of its own. Prominent Pakistani journalists while lambasting India's growls have, with disgust , warned against accepting the Taliban's offers for help against any aggressive Indian move against Pakistan.  Its hard for them to trust these elements after they have been ruthlessly attacking Pakistani soldiers and civilians alike.

The Pakistani citizen's reaction to the nationalities of the attackers and India's anger are surprising in its own way. Predictably, it was defensive but they recognized the Jihadi's are only common thugs fighting for a cause most Pakistanis realize won't put food on their plate or bring them peace and security. They too have suffered from the scourge of the terrorists, not withstanding the fact that it was their own political leaders that spawned the monster. If Pakistan is to be dealt with at all, It has to be with trust and with the objective of empowering the government to make it a stable and prosperous nation.

India, on the other hand, needs only one image to see where its 'action' should lie. The grainy image of the two brave constables cocking and firing a World War II model Enfield rifle against the terrorists armed with AK-47's in the infamous VT terminal video. There's also a need to re-evaluate its recruitment mechanisms for the police, Intelligence agencies and politicians. A massive training and resupplying effort should go into the police forces and as well as strategically deploying its counter terror units. Coastal security, renewed cooperation and communication between intelligence agencies have also been cited as areas needing urgent attention. And last but not least, creating a stable infrastructure for transportation so that emergency services can respond quickly. The time has arrived to balance focus from external threats with internal ones.

Both countries need to look within to deal with the terrorist threat. Political posturing and half-truths will only deepen the mistrust even if there is a potential for peaceful coexistence. India, instead of focusing on Pakistan exclusively, should look inside itself to protect its people and secure its borders. It has shown that it can viciously deal with those elements that penetrate its borders as witnessed by the brave acts of the police and commando units. The leadership should deepen its ties and communication the GCC (Gulf cooperation council)states as this is where a good portion of the funding for the terrorists nefarious activities arise. It is possible that the elimination of extremism lies in the heart of the subcontinent through the mutual co-operation between India and Pakistan, but sacrifices and genuine gestures have to be made to establish that elusive trust for the greater good of the people of the subcontinent.