We should also take active part in world politics. For example, we have a chance of playing a part in Afghanistan by deepening our concern. We must establish an alternative influence group with Iran, China and Russia to counter the excessive US influence in the region. We must be active and seen to be so and the USA and other major countries must realise that we are a nation which cannot be taken for granted as the case of US-Pakistan relationship. However, we must not hamper any progress in American operations. Rather we must take active part as keeping Pakistan, the Taliban, bin Laden and the USA involved is in our interest. Assisting the Northern Alliance militarily and financially may prove fruitful in this direction. Our relationship with Afghanistan will be more paying as friendship with an enemy's enemy does. We can develop this even taking all the nations, including the USA into confidence.

Another important part we have to play is to rejuvenate our intelligence system. We have to earmark our intelligence system extra funding and allow them to expand their scope in neigbouring countries.

We now have a chance to denude Kashmir of the extremist elements. All our might must be put in Kashmir to flush out terrorists our of Kashmir. The step in banning the terrorist organisations is correct, though late. We have delayed enough, we must not waste our valuable time any more. Our information campaign and diplomatic efforts too need to be stepped up. We must stop giving premature and half-cooked interviews and speeches to please internal audiences. Persons in authority must be watchful about their words.

The last, but not the least, the ruling alliance must set its house in order, stop ad hocism and be truly democratic by taking the opposition along. Faith in isms must not be at the cost of the nation.

Dr D. S. GREWAL, Ludhiana

War against whom?: War has never been a permanent solution to any issue. The ultimate loser has always been humanity. Whether it is the barbaric attack on the WTC towers or the retaliatary action inflicted by the USA and its allies on Afghanistan, the casualties and the sufferers have inevitably been the innocent, harmless civilians. Those in high places sign documents for others’ massacre as if they are just playing a virtual game. Bring forth one man who says that for killing or capturing Osama, the sacrifice of so many innocent Afghanis is justified.

The reasonable thing to do would be a political dialogue with the ruling Taliban. As the Taliban themselves have said that once the USA furnishes the evidence of Osama's hand in the attacks, they would make sure that he is handed over to the right hands for justice. The USA, in the interest of humanity, should leave its ego and go in for a peaceful method to bring the guilty to justice.

SARIKA DHUPAR, Ambala Cantt

The death dance: The present scenario is going to turn into a third world war unless the mode to counter it is sensibly reversed from indiscriminate destruction and killing of innocent people to a course of corrective action as adopted by Mahatma Gandhi to drive out the Britishers, first out of South Africa and then from India without any bloodshed.

The cruel killing of innocent civilians, including women and children, and displacement of lakhs of people cannot compensate the terrible loss of life and property in the USA on September 11, 2001.

The dangerous threat of chemical warfare is also emerging e.g. despatch of anthrax. The need of the hour is to sit together to think and plan a practical strategy as almost all countries are in a coalition to end terrorism. The fight against terrorism does not permit the killings of innocent civilians.

B. L. BANSAL, Chandigarh

A bigger stake : Now is the time for our leadership to rise to the occasion and not falter diplomatically as we did during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan whom we annoyed that time. We have a bigger stake in whatever happens in Afghanistan because it is bordering a hostile Pakistan. Our leadership must also see that we play very positive role in setting up a post-Taliban dispensation as a non-aligned, moderate, secular, broad-based government there is in our interest and this is what we should try for. Pakistan should not be allowed to dominate in this process.

K. L. BARTA, Yamunanagar

Foreign policy: India's foreign policy responses have to be much more than the usual knee-jerk reactions. Our foreign policy so far has only been "reactive" and not "active".

The changing scenario demands that the objectives need to be worked out afresh to deal with our neighbours, the region and the world at large.