The Hindu Business Line : Benazir assassination

The unfortunate assassination of Pakistan Opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is shocking and distressing and has all but dashed the hopes of the Pakistani people that free and fair elections will take place in Pakistan and that democracy will be restored.

Both India and Pakistan have suffered enormously in recent times because of terrorism and violence. The assasination of Benazir Bhutto is as cruel as the violent killing of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. It should also be kept in mind that apart from political leaders, hundreds of lives have been lost in both countries in the last few years in terrorist attacks.

Both the Governments of India and Pakistan should sink their differences and co-operate economically and politically so that both the countries can live in peace. More than five decades of confrontation between these countries have retarded the progress of the entire sub-continent, bringing little good to anyone.

Active co-operation between both the countries is an essential pre-condition to radically root out and defeat the forces of terrorism in the sub-continent.

N. S. Venkataraman Chennai