We will join the fight against terror

The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr — the Koran on Jihad

Joining the fight against terror is on everyone’s agenda now. And there is no better way to join the fight than to use the pen, as the quote above from the Koran, on the subject of Jihad, suggests. While corporate India cannot fight using guns, surely, it can use its knowledge in the battle. There was a lot of anger directed at the government in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, but now realisation has sunk in that the politicians are here to stay, though their faces may change. However, there is a lot that Indian companies can do to engage with the government and the politicians to keep the battle going.

Remember what US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said when she was in India? She had pointed out that it is as important to choke the routes of funds for terror as it is to buy new guns and bullet-proof vests for the security men.

Trade or terror? A day after the Mumbai terror attacks, Tanvir Ahmed Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said India should open up more for imports from Pakistan While India exports goods worth $1.95 billion (Rs 9,750 crore), its imports are worth only $400 million Only $2-4 million of goods are traded over land with the remaining coming over sea and Sheikh wants permission to send in containers to increase trade The National Bank of Pakistan has applied for setting up of a branch in India and is waiting for six months

Corporate India now also has another duty— to protect its own establishments. Ratan Tata has already suggested that. However, the bigger task will be to work with the political establishment. That would help in demonstrating to the world that India is a safe place to do business, thereby encouraging investment inflow into the country.

Early December, the cement industry demanded a ban on imports of cement from Pakistan, raising the fear that explosives may be smuggled in cement bags. It is another issue that the Pakistani cement industry has been undercutting Indian prices for a while. However, it is important to look at the extensive business interests of the Pakistani army, the terror network in Pakistan, the head honchos of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and take a re-look at imports and whether the cash may benefit these networks.

In fact, there is a huge balance of trade imbalance between India and Pakistan, and yet, India imports around $400 million (Rs 2,000 crore) worth of good from Pakistan ever year (and exports goods worth $1.95 billion). There is a lot that India can do if it decides to use all the information that it can gather and engage with the politicians at the forefront of this battle.