• As your editorial points out, the next four to six months will be crucial for us. The events of 26/11 have polarised world opinion on our side as never before. The Obama presidency is expected to be sympathetic to our anti-terror initiatives. The new dispensation at Dhaka will be congenial. The LTTE being on the run, Colombo could be more amenable. As always, China is the odd man out when it comes to India’s difficulties. As the editorial says, we cannot afford a major distraction on account of general elections. We must hit back at Pakistan with intense diplomatic offensive, to be followed up, if necessary, by giving one incisive chase, inside Pakistan, to the terrorist groups while the international opinion is still solidly in our favour and Mumbai is red hot on the anvil. This would be an object lesson for not only Pakistan but its ally, China, as well. This is the right time that our politicians show up as leaders, and act as such.

— R. Narayanan Ghaziabad

Brainstorm the fort

• While agreeing with the contention of Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon that some well-placed elements in the Pakistan government hierarchy were privy to the 26/11 commando-type operation and provided the logistics and other wherewithal for the attacks, I think it is futile to expect Pakistan to cooperate in handing over the terror masterminds. The US is unlikely to go all the way with India on this. Indian strategic and defence experts must put their heads together to suggest to the government a way out. Moreover, very little effort seems to have gone into finding out the Indian collaborators, as it is impossible to organise an attack of this scale, accuracy and ferocity without such collaborators. This angle must also be investigated, and the guilty brought to justice.

... contd.