With evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in Mumbai terror attack emerging, calls for war with Pakistan become louder. On the Indian side, senior political heads have rolled and even change of government is possible at the next election. India could lose Dr Manmohan Singh’s lead at a most crucial time during the current global economic crisis.

The extremist Sangh Pariwar led by the BJP and the RSS see this crisis as an opportunity to return to power with their extremist Hindutva agenda. They will exploit it to their extremist ends.

This would be a disaster for the whole region. With religious fanatics leading the two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, and a third (China) next door, the situation could become literally “nuclear explosive”. A dangerous global power struggle involving the US and Russia could even escalate into world war III. That is the sort of sensational language we are hearing these days.

Sane leaders like Indian PM, Dr Manmohan Singh, should ensure that, no matter what the personal political consequences for them, they should speak out robustly against the communal madness which has brought the country to this dangerous position.

This act of terrorism, despite foreign involvement, has its roots in India. Pakistan has refused to hand over to India the suspected terrorists arrested in Pakistan, but issued a counter list of Indian terrorists believed to be involved in terrorism in Pakistan. India must know that Pakistan government cannot be expected to “surrender” suspected Pakistani terrorists to India and then survive politically!

That would be political suicide in the same way if someone like Bal Thakray, included by Pakistan in own counter list, is handed over to Pakistan. So, India should think of the terrible consequences of pushing Pakistan to the brink.

India should do some soul searching. This, “holier than thou” attitude does not suit India after the pogroms like those in Delhi and Gujarat, the instigators of which are not only going around unpunished but even enjoying positions of influence and power.

It is not surprising that the victims, misled by extremist ideologies, become terrorists and find common cause with terrorists elsewhere. It is also a measure of the laxity of India’s coast guard that these terrorists were able to get in from the sea and attack with such contempt.

Sea routes are also routes for smuggling, big money, bribes and corruption. Questions naturally arise about the integrity of the security net protecting Mumbai and other coastal cities. There is nothing sensational about corruption in India at the expense of national security.

So, whilst India needs to look within for reasons for communal based terrorism, it also needs to explore positive ways of improving relations with its own inseparable geo-economic partner, Pakistan. What is seen as a threat from a neighbour can be changed into an opportunity to improve relations and improve trade of goods and services, instead of trading terrorism between the two countries.

This is not the time to listen to voices of communal madness on both sides.