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"There is no question that this was Pakistan. You could see it as an act of war," the writer of 'Satanic Verses' and 'Midnight's Children' said in an interview to ‘The Times’.
"The West should be tougher on Pakistan. It is trying to play both ends against the middle -- to look like the friend of the revolutionaries on the one hand and a friend of the West in the fight against terrorism. It can't be both things," he said.
"This country should make clear that as long as Pakistan harbours terrorists it's not going to get any Western aid."
Mumbai saw a demonstration of the ‘extraordinary barbarism’ that people are prepared to unleash on the world, the controversial author said. "How many of these attacks do we need before we understand what's going on?"
Recalling his days in Mumbai, Rushdie said he watched with horror as flames tore through the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai.
"Those are the streets I grew up on. Two of the characters in my novel 'Midnight's Children' consummate their love affair in the Palace, as so many of us did."
Britain has in Rushdie's view been far too complacent about the rise of extremism. "Both (Margaret) Thatcher and Tony Blair made the same mistake, which was the so-called Londonistan policy where you allow these (Islamist) groups to set up shop here in the belief that if you do that they won't attack this country and that you can monitor them."
"This country became the safe haven for every extremist group in the world. It was idiocy - idiocy," he said.
On the fatwa issued against him by Ayatollah Khomeini for the 'Satanic Verses' on February 14, 1989, he said he realises the it was merely the ‘prologue’ in a very long novel that is becoming ever more terrifying.
"On September 11, 2001, one of his three favourite cities, New York, was attacked, four years later his adopted home of London was targeted by suicide bombers and last year, Mumbai, the city of his birth, was overwhelmed by extremists intent on causing havoc," the report noted.
The West should, Rushdie felt, have realised that the fatwa was just the beginning of a new era. "There was a tendency from everybody to believe that it was an isolated incident rather than an indicator or something wider, to believe that it was all my fault."
Rushdie, who is now portrayed as a party animal and a favourite for the paparazzi because he often has a beautiful woman on his arm, said after four failed marriages, he has no intention of tying the knot again.
"I'm not saying I am never going to fall in love again but there is no need to marry." Nor does he want any more children. "I'm 61, enough already," Rushdie said.
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The west are after their own interest. They want to keep India under developed country. They are the bedfellows with Pakistan. Even after 9/11 and attacks in London, instead of declaring Pakistan a rouge state, they are trying to placate the terrorist breeding country.
Yes, it is an act of war. But, who else in India or in the world has the sense to realise that? It is an act of war by a world terrorist army that needs to be attacked and wiped out by the peace loving, civilised, world, which, unfortunately, does not include Pakistan.
Rushdie is a threat to the safety of the Hindus
this is the only way to make pakistan bad in the eyes of the world its nation is also target of terrorism it is duty of press to provide right image of any country not make its public against him i hope next time u will not publish this bad personalities again interviews again ur purpose is to sell newspaper u goodwill is ur weaponso try to b good
Rushdie's comments are the realistic one, but Indian politicians,seems, do not like such comments.The terror attacks, they feel it as a gift from the neighbours.As they have no courage to fight back
Rushdie's analysis is more than correct.It was not mere terrorists attack planned and executed by few terrorists but the whole thing had been brain-child of ISI and Pakistani Govt. Having failed to control/check the escalating Taliban and AlQaeda Pakistan wanted to provoke India in a hope that India may declare war or war-like situation thrrough which Pak could gain both time and more economic help from USA and the West.Pak failed to calculte that tis intrigue could fail and may prove contra-productive.For its survival because the country is on the verge of bankruptcy it got too forward with treacherous and cunning tricks,the only policy it depends on.This country must be punished with serious economic sanctions from whole civilized world.Well said Mr.Rushdie.
what Mr. Rushdie says here, makes sense! the West has so far not understood that Pakistan needs to learn lessons in following norms of civilized societies. as a spoilt brat, Pakistan has not spent the Western Financial Aid wisely, leading to flow of a lot of funds to the terrorist elements. now unless the civilized western world understands the implications of Aiding Pakistan, there is no way of fund-starving the terrorist elements, operating from Pakistan and Afghanistan.stopping of all financial aid to Pakistan, and declaring it a rogue state, may lead to some sobering of the Pakistani official establishment, including the Military and the ISI.
rusdie is a cool guy......i think a lot of....may be billion of indian girls would like to be with him........jus like this mans comments.........true one
Bravo Rushidie! We all hope that Politicians and Public all around the World realize the truth that you intend to convey. We need more far-sighted intellingent writers like you who belong to the greater religion - of Humanity and love. Keep writing like and elighten the common mass.