INTERVIEW WITH RAJMOHAN GANDHI

Chiharu Takenaka, a South Asian specialist of Meiji Gakuin University, spoke with Gandhi on the global effect of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and the subsequent war in Afghanistan.

Rajmohan Gandhi, a visiting professor of the University of California (Los Angeles), is an internationally renowned writer, journalist and peace activist.

Gandhi, grandson of the legendary Mahatma Gandhi, served as a senator in the Indian Rajya Sabha and worked for national integration in caste-divided society and reconciliation in Kashmir. He led the Indian delegation to the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva in 1990.

Following in his grandfather's footsteps, Gandhi has preached nonviolence in practice and in his books, ``Understanding the Muslim Mind'' (1987) and ``The Good Boatman: Portrait of Gandhi'' (1995). Both books portray his strong belief in peace and humanity. Excerpts from the interview follow: 　

Q: What is the impact of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan on international society? Are we about to enter an era in which a major power is allowed to use violence to punish ``evil''?

A: I cannot say the attack against terrorists is bad, but I will say it must be limited. The world should remind the superpower that it must not cross certain limits. We must not allow innocent people to be hurt.

Q: Why does terrorism still threaten today's world?

A: The important task is to address the rage that motivates terrorists. It is essential to ask whether Middle Eastern Arabs have genuine reasons for being aggrieved by the actions or inaction of the world's great powers.

The end of violence and the end of injustice must go hand in hand. If too many innocent people are injured in the war against terrorism, this could create new terrorists. Thus, the reconstruction of Afghanistan should be the global priority once the war ends. Political reconciliation and economic reconstruction are very important, maybe even more important than catching terrorists.

Q: How does the war affect neighboring countries such as Pakistan? With hundreds of thousands of refugees entering Pakistan, including Taliban soldiers, and political mobilization by Islamic fundamentalists, Pakistan seems to be in a crisis. If the war is prolonged, isn't there a risk Pakistan could face civil war?

A: Yes, I think so. But so far, Gen. Pervez Musharraf has done better than expected. That said, stability in Pakistan is difficult to predict. Japan, the United States and other nations have tried to understand the problems in Pakistan. But there are huge economic challenges and popular demands for the government.

The only difference between Pakistan and Afghanistan is that there is a government in Pakistan, while there is no such thing in Afghanistan. The urgent need for economic reconstruction and political reconciliation also applies to Pakistan.

Q: The warfare could affect surrounding Muslim countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, or even the Xinjiang region in China. Do you see any sign the war will extend to Kashmir? Do you think Taliban forces could find sanctuary there?

Chiharu Takenaka, a South Asian specialist of Meiji Gakuin University.

A: No, President Musharraf will not allow that. But Kashmir will be affected by what is happening now or will happen in the future in Afghanistan. In some parts of the world where two parties have strong reasons for conflict, such as Northern Ireland, the Basque region of Spain or even Palestine, a desire has emerged since Sept. 11 to come to reach an agreement. I certainly hope this will happen in Kashmir but, unfortunately, so far signs point to the opposite.

That said, if those who want self-determination in Kashmir give up violence and peace activists also call for justice, we can advance slowly. We cannot be optimistic about Kashmir, but with the fall of the Taliban in Kabul, women have begun lifting their burqa (veil). I think this could impact positively on Kashmiri society because women will become more active and seek justice without turning to violence.

Q: How could the international community support post-war reconstruction in Afghanistan?

A: Despite the United States' special position, the U.N. remains independent, and we should encourage the U.N. to play a more active role.

The U.N. must learn to do so in a new way, using the expertise of people who understand the situation and learning from its experiences in Cambodia and elsewhere.

If Muslim countries, such as Turkey, Bangladesh and others, were to send troops to Afghanistan, such troops, although Muslim, could cause tension within local society.

Q: What kind of contribution do you expect from the government and people of Japan?

A: Among U.N. member nations, if Japan, Canada and Scandinavian countries take the lead, it would be very meaningful. Citizens of the world must put pressure on their leaders. Japan should never accept the notion that Islam is specifically flawed. It must enhance its valuable links with various parties, with the United States and Europe on the one hand, and with the Arab and Muslim world on the other. 　

Q: Do you think ahimsa (nonviolence), the concept and practice of your grandfather, is relevant for the 21st century?

A: The images of destruction on Sept. 11, and the future fears the attacks provoked, will haunt humanity for some time.

Nonviolence may seem more difficult than ever before, but it is also more necessary than ever before. The darkness amid the clouds may be greater, and the need for us to hold a torch even greater.

The world should seek to bridge divides within humanity, such as the gap between rich and poor, between various religions, between neighboring ethnic groups, and between one geographical region and another.

Although the goal is exceedingly difficult, we must look forward to the day when an American feels the discomfort of a one-legged Afghan hobbling along a bombed-out path, and when an Afghan allows into his heart the grief of the children of fire-fighters who perished in New York.