Bhikhu Parekh India can certainly play a mediatory role between the Muslims and the Western world because of India being a neutral country, maintaining equidistance from both parties, and also enjoying their trust. After Indonesia, India has the largest population of Muslims in the world. It is close to the West and its relations with US, of late, are warming up. India has some experience in dealing with terrorism and it has a good record of integrating its Muslim minority/minorities into its society.India has had three Muslim presidents, and Muslim officers occupy high positions in the Armed Forces. Despite India facing terrorism from Pakistani sources in Kashmir for the last 15 years, it never declared war on Islam. There has been no large-scale Muslim militancy after the 2002 Gujarat riots in which Muslims found thesmelves at the receiving end. Indian Muslims, in spite of their grievances, have been thoroughly loyal to the country. No wonder, President Bush noted that out of 150 million Indian Muslims, not one had joined the Al Qaeda or fought in Afghanistan. And above all, we have the Gandhian heritage. Under the stewardship of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, we played a fairly successful mediatory role between the West and the former USSR. I am sure we can do it again. THE INDIAN EXPRESS Wednesday, August 24, 2005 Read comment[s]
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