First of Many
Terrorism, as always, has a political motivation and today's attack was obviously intended to derail peace talks between India and Pakistan. Thus the leaders should be applauded for their restraint and unity in condemning it on the one hand without jumping to conclusions on the other.
If the two countries can get an agreement on Kashmir together, it would be a landmark achievement - but there are many vested interests who would rather see them fail. Expect attacks like this to increase over the next months, especially as Pakistan heads towards a watershed election.
Terrorism in India | Murder on the Friendship Express | Economist.com
After three days of talks, they are likely to sign several agreements, including one to reduce the risk of an accidental nuclear war. They will also continue negotiations to resolve two smaller territorial disputes: Sir Creek, a briny stream that should set the two countries’ maritime border; and the Siachen glacier, on the eastern edge of Kashmir. The peace process, says Commodore Uday Bhaskar, of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in Delhi, is “becoming blast-proof”.
Given the rivals’ history of war and slaughter, that is no trifle. Yet it is one thing for the process to survive under fire, and another for it actually to succeed. Dolefully, with every blast, peace looks more distant.
