Dispatches

Comments

1. how can i see this doc. please help..ive heard so much abt it and after reading the comments iam desperate to see it.. thanks

   Posted by manu on 05/10/2009 08:43:07

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2. They haven't shown any of this footage in India! I hate how people try to cover up whats important for everyone to know and see!! This is the reality of 2009!

   Posted by jiji on 14/09/2009 01:52:47

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3. It's shocking that people in Bombay don't know about this. I just saw it and it's sooo powerful. Please publicize this more - to help the healing process

   Posted by Achint on 11/09/2009 21:02:18

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4. An excelent coverage of the disaster and insight into Islamic purposes and goals via terrorism.

   Posted by James Weeks on 05/08/2009 05:32:21

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5. This film is very interesting one, I was amazed how the film maker can do this. This is a remarkable efford. How can I order a copy?

   Posted by INTERESTING on 04/08/2009 10:11:45

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6. For those who know the history of Indian subcontinent, these atrocities should not come as surprise. The comments I see here tells me that very few people know or care about history. If you read history books, far greater atrocities have been committed in the name of Islam against both Hindu and Muslim population of India. When Nadir Shah of Iran attacked Delhi he butchered thousands of Men, women and children in single day and then captured thousands of women and girls from India and distributed them as reward among his soldiers and later took them as slaves to Iran. He butchered Hindu's and Muslims. His deputy, Afghan king Ahmad shah Abdali followed this practice very religiously. When he won the third war of Panipat, his army committed worst war crimes ever recorded by raping every Maratha woman and girl they could find in the broad daylight and beheading every boy above 12 years of age. In India, any Muslim ruler of Delhi who was sympathetic towards Hindu population could not survive for long except emperor Akbar. For a ruler It was required to have extremist views and implement them. I want to believe that Muslims in general want to live in peace and are fair towards other religions but they need to look at history and accept that throughout history, there are plenty of examples of worst atrocities being committed in the name of Islam. What happened in Mumbai is not surprising and it is nothing compared to what has happened in the past. The problem we have is that true history is not told or taught in school to avoid communal tensions. I tend to believe the good argument for it but by turning our back to what happened in the past, we are refusing to learn from history and never prepare ourselves. As always the history repeats itself.

   Posted by Bala on 18/07/2009 06:05:27

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7. I think the worst feeling coming out of these attacks (for any Indian) is the tremendous loss of morale. There seems to be no state will to go after the guys who planned this (Pak Army and ISI). Imagine if this had happened in Israel... I know you cant compare Palestine to Pakistan but the sheer lack of unity and political will to take military action is really depressing. If allying with the US means we cant go after guys like hafiz saeed, we need to put an end to this. National morale is more important than pleasing the Obama government .

   Posted by SidBangalore on 15/07/2009 17:45:59

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8. Where these terrorists could not discern between muslims and non-muslims they shot indiscriminately (V.T. station), however where they could identify muslims (as in the hotel incident with the Turkish gentleman)they spared the muslims. Thus it was a case of religious identity i.e. you had a far greater chance of surviving that night if you were a muslim. However this in no way means that muslims in India condoned this atrocity. No decent human being would do this no matter what faith he hailed from. Unfortunately the salafi backed doctrine in the Pakistan government policy over the past has reared it's ugly head.

   Posted by Sunny Chan on 09/07/2009 09:47:44

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9. why didnt the indian authorities provide the police with modern weapons instead relying on outdated single shot rifles which are affective in the right hands but not in front of someone on killing spree with a AK47

   Posted by read this on 08/07/2009 20:12:51

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10. It was unfortunatelly not shown in my country neither, I was lucky to be able to watch it on Youtube before it was removed. All in all a good documentary which I believe managed to give "outsiders" a certain understanding of the undescribable cruelty and the horrible "atmosphere" in Mumbai during the attacks. I'm glad the massacre at VT-station - and the young boy who lost his family there - have been paid so much attention in this documentary. This, in contradiction to Indian massmedia which mainly focused on Taj and Nariman the first weeks after the attacks. Seems to me most international media did the same "mistake", hence it's good to see this film focusing more on the "common man". Though, as a survivor I must admit I am extremely disappointed about the tiny piece on the massacre at Caf? Leopold. That part being so short, quite uninspired and very uninformative honestly made me (and other survivors) feel offended when watching it. Who cares if the terrorist waited outside 10 mins. before throwing the first grenade, when the documentary - very wrongly - makes it seem like the attack itself was over in the blink of an eye? Why didn't it even mention the well known fact that Colaba Police Station is right across the street, but that even so, the police never did anything! Absolutely nothing! Armed police were few meters away, but didn't do anything before they finally came to have a look at the damage ... long after the attacks were over and many of the victims were taken away. The police simply let the terrorists go on and on and on, - several rounds of indiscriminate firing with 2-3 mins. gaps between to see if anyone was still moving ... before finishing off by calmly strawling around the small room executing one by one. My friend was one of them. The victims and survivors of Caf? Leopold have received very little attention from the meda. Many of us wish to tell what happened, so how come it's more important to let the world know that streethawkers spotted the terrorist tapping eachothers shoulders? What do WE have to do to be seen and heard? What do WE have to do for anyone to be willing to reveil the truth? In the aftermath, having to ask these questions hurts more than the memories of what we lived through that fateful night...

    Posted by Survivor on 08/07/2009 20:00:32

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11. Could you please repeat this programme again as I would like to watch it. I heard you done a good job. Thanks

    Posted by srinivasan on 07/07/2009 14:12:04

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12. Really well made documentary. I would have been very happy had channel 4 allowed the world to see this film. Unfortunately this is IP restricted so majority of the people in the world (Except UK) wont be able to see this quality documentary. I hope they distribute the rights worldwide for this doc.

    Posted by Sarika Pande on 06/07/2009 21:30:14

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13. This is a very powerful and gripping documentary showing the real events of 26/11. Everyone especially Indian and Pakistani nationals should see the truth of 26/11 unfold. I was going through a lot of forums, reading comments written by people who watched the episode. There is a bit of concern when I see people directly associating these acts to the religion rather than terrorsim and writing hateful remarks. Lot of people have already tried to say not to target the religion, as no religion would ever ask for or glorify killing humans. A strong beleiver of any religion would never blame it on another religion. If it was hatred to another religion, then Pakistan should have been the most peaceful and prosperous country in the world. We know that fact as well. I want to make another point here. As Indians we should never forget the strength and unity we have in our country. Just look at the various states, languages, customs and religon and yet we are such a peaceful and strong nation. Lets not divide ourself in the name of religion and fight amoung ourselves. We have already seen the consequence of divide and rule. Our objective should be to get more stronger rather than pointing others acts as done by one's own countrymen. Pakistan as a country has failed miserably. Due to their socio-ecnomic and educational background youths are being easily fooled to join terrorist groups in return for money and comfort (even a place in heaven). Their controllers were able to fool them into doing such disgraceful and horrific acts. They partially succeded. Lets not give them a chance to be fully successful by fighting amoung ourselves.. Hateful remarks against religion doesn't help fight this terrorism. We have corrupt politicians, government officials, private companies in our country. Should we classify them on the basis of religion and nationality and then fight? It is humans who do it and hence blame a group of humans who do it rather than conviniently classifying it to a religion or caste. Lets not get blinded in rage. If you love your country, don't love it in parts, love it in full, love its people.

    Posted by FAYAZ on 06/07/2009 17:28:58

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14. The indian reaction to the incident is just as impotent as its actions during the incident. had this happenned in US, the US administration would have rounded up all the faintest suspects, as happenned during nine/eleven. Besides the handlers helping the terrorists, the handlers also got the ground information from 5th columnist(muslims) informats. Its bad that indians let these traitors live a life, full of religious freedom

    Posted by staunch indian on 04/07/2009 15:49:56

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15. I would love to see this, as would the 22 million people who live in and around MUMBAI. Its great that you made this documentary,and its great that you managed to get this exclusive footage and testimony, but what good is it if you refuse to share it with the people who really went through the ordeal because of copyright issues? Please put it up/stream it/make it availiable to the thousands of Mumbaikars who were directly affected by this event. For once, tell your lawyers who pulled this off youtube (thank you to whomever put it up) to throw the damn book out of the window and SHARE THIS WITH MUMBAI.

    Posted by Jehan Manekshaw on 04/07/2009 09:04:15

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16. I have no doubt in saying that it is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. It chronicles each and every facet of the gruesome incident and leaves no questions unanswered about it. It in fact tells the gravity of the threat under which we live. I wish and pray that nothing of this sort or worse happens in any part of the world, not only in our country. When it comes to deal with something like terrorism, we or for that reason any nation in the world, can never be 100% prepared to avert it, as we never know in what new form or with which new face the terrorism will occur. So, the most important thing is how quickly and effectively we respond to any such attack. During 26/11 attack this was our biggest failure. What else could we expect with the policemen with ancient rifles and some even without it, non arrival of commandos in time due to bureaucracy and lack of resources. Three lessons that we MUST take are: (1) A more effective and alert intelligence system (2) Advanced weaponry and training of our police (3) Quick response of our commandos. I have not said any word about dealing with Pakistan, as the million dollar question is who to deal with in Pakistan. Pakistan is a failed state and there no doubt about it. So, rather than wasting our time and energy in dealing with it through diplomacy or war, we must put our house in order to make it secure. Let Pakistan die its own death. One of the most vital part of the documentary was the transcripts of the conversation between the terrorists (for God sake, stop calling them gunmen) and their masterminds/controllers. The casual manner of conversation about killing innocent people was the most shocking for me. I feel the most ashamed as a Muslim on hearing them say it will please The God (Allah in Arabic language) and what they were doing/going to do was pious and worth of them getting into the Heaven (Jannat in Arabic language) after they are killed. Many of us must be wondering how a person can so easily justify such a gruesome act in terms of God and Heaven and of course religion and the other ones simply follow without any thinking/logic/consideration. However I am not wondering. Why? It will be clear to you if you read the following lines. I was born in a Muslim family, raised as a Muslim with a Muslim like name ('Mohammad' - the most sacred name among Muslims - being part of my first names). Although I am a Muslim to the core of my heart and feel fortunate of being one, but only as an individual. As a part of Muslim society, I feel ashamed and I just cannot relate myself to it. Thanks to the heavens that I was born in a Muslim family, else I could not have even known what Islam is actually. To be a Muslim one has to born of Muslim parents or have to adopt Islam. However there is remote possibility of the later, considering the bad name brought to it by its own (so called) followers, whether it is through discrimination towards women, terrorism or whatever you name. Believe me it has nothing to do with Islam and its Holy Book, which I have read and understood on my own and not preached by anyone. Muslims (i.e. Muslim Society), in general, considers human being in terms of Muslims and Non-Muslims and not just humanity. The preachers in the mosques, pray for the Palestinians and Chechens not for just humanity, whether it was back in India or here in Chile, which has a few thousands of Muslims and a mosque in Santiago. Most of the Muslims know how to read the Qur'an but they do not understand it as they do not know the language. They simply mug it up and recite in prayers. For them Islam is what is taught by the preachers (read bl**dy preachers) and you can understand what they teach and what the Muslims practice, in general, in the name of Islam. So I blame it solely to the Muslims for their image and the image of Islam they have made the world to believe. So, if sometime even as an individual I am supposed to prove my integrity, then I will not be surprised.

    Posted by Dr Mohammad Ayaz Alam on 03/07/2009 23:48:01

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17. Thank you for showing us what happen in mumbai . I wish this documentary is also aired on Indian and pakistan TV. So that commen people can understand what realy happened on that night.

    Posted by Sunny on 03/07/2009 19:21:52

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18. this documentary is an eye opener! unfortunately could only watch the last half an hour. One small request, is that if you could please show this programme again, it would be great! excellent!

    Posted by Era on 03/07/2009 19:01:14

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19. I loved it, maybe you should show it again, on a friday or in the weekend... Truly amazing, a clear eye opener. Good Job guys

    Posted by nawal on 02/07/2009 20:46:16

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20. Lots of nasty & fake/false comments allowed by the moderators allowing Hindus to judge/type caste every Pakistani/Muslim on the planet... ...We don't forget 1984 attacks against Sikhs, Violence against Muslims in Gujarat & destruction of an ancient mosque. Mob attacks against Christians & low caste Dalits. Quote from a Christan website re Hindu terror in India 2008 'The group planned to carry out attacks to frighten the population and force non-Hindus to convert to Hinduism. MUMBAI (AsiaNews/Agencies) %u2013 The people behind the Malegaon blasts were organising an underground movement to promote Hindu nationalism and set up a Hindu state (Hindu Rashtra).On Tuesday the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) presented evidence to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court against 14 defendants involved in the attack that killed six people, wounding 70, in Malegaon, a city in Maharashtra, on 29 September 2008.' MY POINT IS, NOBODY IS PERFECT AND AS MUCH AS YOU SPREAD HATE ABOUT US, YOU KNOW WE SHARE SIMILAR CULTURES(MY ROOTS WHERE IN THE BRAVE RAJPUT CLAN IN INDIA). WE NEED TO STCK TOGETHER AND DRIVE THSES HATEFUL PEOPLE OUT/AWAY...

    Posted by Khan on 02/07/2009 18:07:20

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21. its really eye opener video,i lost few friends(taj hotel)so no words,,,,,,,,

    Posted by shree on 02/07/2009 11:53:35

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22. its really eye opener video,i lost few friends(taj hotel)so no words,,,,,,,,

    Posted by shree on 02/07/2009 11:33:37

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23. Thanks Channel4 for this documentary. This was latest in the series of attacks on Mumbai, India's economic capital. Alas, Congress Party takes no action as they believe taking strong action against Jihadis will affect their Muslim votebank. In the previous Central Govt there was a Central Cabinet Minister who actually stated Jihadis were NOT behind this Mumbai mayhem. And Sonia/MM Singh could not fire him because of same Muslim Votebank. UPA I Govt had Cabinet ministers (Paswan and Lalu Prasad) who used lookalike of Osama Bin Laden in Muslim areas during election Campaign. A State Minister who announced price on the then US President Bush's head appeared with General Secretary of Congress Party in a news conference just prior to last general election. India is worst victim of Jihadi terrorism. This is doing greatest damage to neighborly relationship between India and Pak. Also, its cutting off tolerance at grassroot level between communities as suspicion is growing. Worse than Jihadis are (1) those handlers who use them for political purpose , and (2) those who refuse to take action fearing Muslim Vote. People can take only upto a limit. One day, if it continues like this, hell will break loose when people themselves will NOT DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT to tackle Jihadis and solve the issue themselves. Small wars are already being fought in neighborhoods as hot heads are taking over. Already in the state of Maharashtra, no shop, plaza can be named bearing any Pakistani City. Even the famous Karachi Sweet shops can't have a name like "Karachi Sweets". Music CDs, DVDs, songs sung , books written by Pakistanis can't be sold in Maharashtra. Pakistan must realize this bogey of terrorism against India will bring its own disaster (if not already), and also do great damage to already marginalized Muslims of India. No force on earth can force India to vacate Kashmir. Neither Pakistan can sustain continued war with India. At the end, its muslims who pay bigger price due to Islamic terrorism. Not only lives , property, economies get ruined, the inter-relationship between muslims and non-muslims get raptured which will take decades if not centuries to heal (if at all).

    Posted by Dipak Ghosh on 02/07/2009 04:28:01

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24. Mehta, the US know where the funding is going, they are doing it on purpose as they don;'t care about India

    Posted by Amar on 01/07/2009 22:26:15

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25. This was an exceptionally high-quality programme and I thank the production team for their effort in producing such an outstanding piece of work. Editing, in particular, was just awesome. Good luck for the future.

    Posted by Darsh on 01/07/2009 22:13:58

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26. It was really good programme, thanks to the production team. I wish American administration was watching it, they would know where does fund they provide Pak goes.

    Posted by Mehta on 01/07/2009 20:16:09

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27. these people killed anyone muslims sikhs hindus christians just look at the poor orphan children pray to god that these kids have a safe and secure future.

    Posted by not all pakistani are the same on 01/07/2009 19:15:18

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28. After watching this powerful documentry i feel the indian authorities failed to share credible inteligence with the pakistani agencies especially regarding the intercepted phone calls these calls were made during 36 hours of siege no doubt the pakistani goverment which cares less for its own citizens would have taken swift air action(just like in fata regions many times). indian security forces failed to protect its own citizens.stop the blame game.

    Posted by patel on 01/07/2009 19:08:39

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29. i am left with crying tears at the end, we Indians are more or less have become habituated with these terrible atrocities, looks like all we need is a week to pass by forget even we were under attack. What a Shame truly for we people of India and Indian government. One subject which i want to escalate here is infrastructure of these Lashkars.. how on earth would they come out with such plan of high magnitude.. i guess these is where people like Dawood Ibhrahim come in the scene, who for his survival in Pakistan would lend all his contacts, links.. support to groups like Lashkars to carry this level of mayhem. Yet Indian gov would actually do nothing, i fear we are not in control of our border. Salute to Team Dispatches we NRI indians did not know so much has happened. I would like Dispatches team to compile a series about Dawood, what difference he is making you will be astound.

    Posted by Vishy on 01/07/2009 18:01:59

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30. It was very clear from the show, that everything the terrorists did was directly controlled by their controllers. I have three questions for which I can't find answers: 1. Ridiculously, the live media coverage was so high at the time, that the controllers could provide every information to the terrorists. I wish there was some sanity that would have prevailed. Not one TV channel (including the likes of SKY), have come out apologising for inadvertently contributing to the terrorists missions. 2. If the Indian intelligence agencies were intercepting these conversations, why weren't they able to just jam all frequencies... can't satellite phones be jammed. 3. What really pissed me off, is that despite carrying out the entire mission over 4 days, the perpetrators are still sitting somewhere in Pakistan without fear for their lives. While India can't wage a war, I really believe India needs to launch covert CIA-style operations to eliminate such terrorists if it is certain on who they are.

    Posted by Amit on 01/07/2009 15:56:21

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31. Excellent program. It still gives me the chills...how can we be so obsessed with religion? It is truely heartbreaking to see the worst of mankind... Eye opening documentary. India seems to have its hands full...battling with its neighbour and estranged brother, Pakistan. Waging war on the world's largest democracy and the fastest growing economy (even in the present times!!)...would help no one. In true bollywood zest, the show must go on...but without bloodshed.

    Posted by Vaishali on 01/07/2009 15:14:24

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32. It is So sad to see what the world is turned into! The thing that shocked me the most was, how clam they were when they were speaking to each other, I mean they were talking about killing innocent people!!! But they spoke as if it was a Manager coming up to an employee and telling him to finish his project , no feelings no remorse NOTHING!! It is a very very sad world we all have to share with these Monsters!

    Posted by Yama on 01/07/2009 13:50:47

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33. Very sad to these poor innocent people dead firstly india need to train there police properly they are cowered ediots run away let get people killed,killer are stuped who dont value there life brain washed, how controller know they will go to heaven i would tell him why dont you die your self you ediot go to heaven or hell.

    Posted by SAAB on 01/07/2009 11:53:07

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34. Excellent program. Shocking & discusting acts commited against innocent people. BUT I couldn't help thinking the 'intercepted' phone calls to Pakistan' seemed a bit dodgy & contrived... They were too calm and the dialog was like a bad Indian movie. The captured man did look 'slow' and the kind of person who would be perfect for brainwashing... There are major problems in Pakistan, the biggest being denial... Pakistan is being pushed & pulled by terrorist,US army & India. What can a 50 year old third world nation do against that!? As a British Pakistani I went to the Mumbai after the attacks, fortunately people seemed to be getting on with it. In India & Pakistan security is not taken seriously at all, its just too easy for terrosit scum. And all terrorists are scum, be they Sikhs eg Pan Am plane bombing & cross border attacks in Pakistan after getting visas to see Sikh holy sights there. Hindus planting bombs, Hindu mobs attacking innocent Sikhs in 1984 & attacking innocent Muslims in Gujarat (after a faulty train caught fire & killed Hindus). Communist terrorist in Assam etc. In first world 'civilised' nations we have= Spain ETA, Ireland IRA, England David Copeland, USA Oklahoma, the list goes on unless you choose to ignore it and only focus on the recent rise of Islamic terror...

    Posted by Safir on 01/07/2009 11:41:03

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35. I was flicking channels when I started watching this programme and was glued to the screen till the end. How these individuals calmly entered the city "like kids with toy guns" and created such carnage is beyond me. The phone intercepts, the pictures, the personal accounts made a superb documentary that I will never forget. These are things we never saw at the time and it gave a true and accurate account of exactly what happened in Mumbai on that day. Well done Channel 4 - compelling viewing.

    Posted by on 01/07/2009 11:23:51

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36. Many thanks to the director of this documentary and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this show.It was very much eye opening.This also helps to have an insight on exactly what is happening in our world and i wish all of britain had watched this and the rest of the world.Thank you channel4 for allowing the film as well.

    Posted by zodwa on 01/07/2009 11:21:37

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37. Excellent Documentary!! its a pity that more of the terrorists were no captured and tried. The pain and anguish of the survivors and the families of the dead is too hard to bear. I hope that at the end of all this justice will prevail.

    Posted by Harshad Kamble on 01/07/2009 10:21:52

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38. Noor Khan... it is indeed warming to know that there are still some Pakistanis around who value life of non muslims (I'm assuming you are a pakistani). Shame on the misled killers and even more shame on their controllers. Surely Allah will not allow these killers of defenseless & innocent men,women & children into the kingdom of heaven.

    Posted by Singh on 01/07/2009 10:08:23

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39. Such a tragic waste of innocent lives. This programme should be shown in Pakistan (though sadly it won't) as far too many Pakistanis are still in denial about what is happening in their own country and blame outside forces for all the problems. Certain elements in Pakistani authority have been sponsoring extremists and others have not been wholeheartedly confronting them. It is not unpatriotic either for Pakistanis to criticise aspects of Pakistan, but rather the opposite...Pakistanis should face the problems from within and demand better of their leaders and for their country.

    Posted by Noor Khan on 01/07/2009 01:06:37

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40. I felt my blood boil seeing this. So many innocents slaughtered.. What more evidence does any one need to understand that the axis of terrorism starts in Pakistan. I feel this should be enough for the international community to tag Pakistan a terrorist state.

    Posted by Sanjay UK on 30/06/2009 22:15:39

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41. The most disturbing part of islamic fundermentalism is that mainstream muslims do not comdemn these kind of violence committed in the name of their religion. They should be seen reclaiming their religion from mindless criminals like these by being more vocal in their condemnation of such acts.

    Posted by Marius on 30/06/2009 22:10:12

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