Tense citizens fear war is imminent

Karachi: At a busy department store, an elderly woman struggles to wheel her trolley laden with at least 20 large cans of cooking oil.

This seems to go beyond the usual, pre-Eid shopping, and she explains "My husband and I are fearful of a war with India. We live with our daughter-in-law and our grandchildren. Our son is in the US. We are stocking up to ensure there are no problems."

Concerns regarding the mounting tensions with India have been high since last week's terrorist strike on Mumbai.

The India border at Wagah - the only land-based crossing point between Pakistan and India, lies just on the outskirts of Lahore, a 30-minute drive from the city centre, and as such war-hype runs high.

Rumours of troop movements come in every now and then. There have also been reports of people moving assets overseas given the situation.

Cover-up

"I don't believe Pakistan had anything to do with the attacks. India is just blaming us as it always does," said fruit vendor Raza Ahmad, who has a stall at Jallo, just a short distance from the border.

The accusations directed against Pakistan from New Delhi have irked many. The most common perception is that they are being used to cover-up India's own security lapses.

The response of the Pakistan government has been seen by many as spineless. People in many places have taken to recounting patriotic tales, of people in the border-city of Sialkot who climbed below Indian tanks with bombs tied to their bodies in 1965 - the year of Pakistan's first major war with India.

Now thoughts have been turning towards the issue of terrorism as a whole.

Many seem convinced it is an immense threat to Pakistan's security. The existence of seminaries in Lahore and of pamphlets delivering hard-line messages is well known.

It is these elements too who have gained the most from the heightened tensions with India.

Ironically, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), currently locked in battle with the Pakistan army in northern parts of the country, have offered to fight alongside it against India.

Other orthodox leaders have been insisting India, rather than militants, are the real enemy.

The airing of these views have brought warnings from peace activists, such as Asma Jahangir.

She has stressed the urgent need for Pakistan to deal with the terrorists in its midst and at least consider the possibility that the attack in Mumbai did have some moorings in Pakistan.