India's bin laden
October 1 in Srinagar was not as dramatic as September 11 in the US. But the attack on the J&K Assembly emphasises the reality that India continues to be a permanent victim of jehad, that the author of the blast is the bin Laden of Kandahar vintage.

Reclaiming The Faith
Despite Pakistan's extremist image, the country is home to a wide cross-section of people holding moderate views on religion. After the terrorist attacks on the US, it is this non-confrontationist lobby that is waging a coup against the militant and vocal religious extremists.

Ready To Strike
The US strategy to strike the Taliban includes making use of the Northern Alliance, favoured by Russia and Iran and distrusted by Pakistan. In its military pact with the front, the US should keep in mind the future power equations in Afghanistan.

FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

When the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of the assembly complex in Srinagar which killed 38 people, I could not help but remember the phrase: the chickens have come home to roost. The man responsible for the attack was none other than Maulana Masood Azhar who humiliated India when he was set free and personally delivered by India's foreign minister to Kandahar in exchange for 155 passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane. While many had warned of the consequences, I can't resist quoting what India Today wrote in its January 10, 2000 issue. We had warned: "This is the first time that foreign mercenaries have been flown and delivered at a place where they get training. This can only spell danger ... Kashmir is the biggest loser in the Kandahar bargain."

	Our previous cover on Maulana Masood Azhar

In many ways, Azhar is India's Osama bin Laden. He is the founder, ideologue and mastermind behind Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based group that has declared a holy war on India and first claimed responsibility for the October 1 strike. Like bin Laden, he is a fiery orator, believes in jehad and considers India his enemy number one. That's why India needs to go after Azhar with the same conviction and urgency with which the US is pursuing bin Laden. Just as the September 11 attacks legitimised the US demand for bin Laden, dead or alive, the October 1 attack establishes India's claim to get Azhar from Pakistan-quickly and unconditionally.

Our cover story this week delves into the shadowy and sinister persona of Azhar-his inspiration, his links with bin Laden and his cosy relations with Pakistan and the Taliban. Executive Editor Raj Chengappa moved from Kazakhstan to Tajikistan to provide an update on the war plans of the Northern Alliance. We also have a report on Pakistan's battle with itself. The country is emotionally torn between a vocal mass that supports the Taliban and an establishment that has extended expedient support to the US.

The time may be right for India to demand that Azhar pay for his crimes. As a former US secretary of state, John Foster Dulles, once said: "Countries don't have friends, they only have interests." Pakistan is pursuing its interest and so is the US. So should we.

(Aroon Purie)

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