By Ali S Awadh Asseri
The attempted terrorist attack in the holiest of Muslim places, Mecca, that was fortunately pre-empted by the Saudi police and security forces, is yet another proof of the fact, if a proof was ever needed, that terrorists are no one's friends. Coming so soon after the attack in Riyadh, this terrorist activity signifies the importance of the need to take strict measures to combat terrorism even more effectively.
It also proves beyond any shadow of doubt that terrorists cannot be associated with any religion: they cannot be called Muslim terrorists, or Christian terrorists, or Jewish terrorists, or Buddhist terrorists, or Hindu terrorists. They also cannot be associated with any nationality: they cannot be called Saudi terrorists, or Afghan terrorists, or American terrorists, or British terrorists.
So, how should one refer to them? What distinguishes them from the normal, decent every day living human beings who love others of their kind and who would be ill-at-ease to bring any harm to them?
Well, in the first place, it would be a travesty of justice to call them human beings. Quite simply, they are not!
Terrorists are a breed onto themselves. They are callous, they are cruel who live in contempt of other human beings. They are driven by hatred of others no matter what religion they may belong to. Just imagine Muslims trying to commit terrorist acts in the holiest of the Muslim places: Mecca. That is exactly what this bunch of lunatics tried to do at a place where even birds are not harmed. Where life is sacred. Where life is protected rather than harmed. Where life has a holy meaning to it that no act of terrorism will ever be able to destroy.
Terrorism has not only hit New York. The holiest of Muslim places, Mecca, has also been a target of these fanatics. Terrorism has not only hit America. Saudi Arabia, the country where the holiest of the Muslim places are located, has also been a target of this mad bunch.
What were these terrorists doing in Mecca? There are no non-Muslims living there. Obviously, they were not there to kill non-Muslims. They were there to kill Muslims.
Terrorism is an evil phenomenon. It does not discriminate in its targets. It targets every religion, every country, every human being. All acts of terrorism by an individual, or a group of evil doers, should, therefore, be met with unqualified determination and force by all religions of the world, all countries of the world, all people of the world.
This is where all humanity converges on a single platform with a single motive: to rid the world completely and conclusively of the menace of terrorism.
It is here that they must not waste their time in referring to this breed as Muslim terrorists, or Christian terrorists, or Jewish terrorists, or Buddhist terrorists, or Hindu terrorists. One should just call them terrorists. Because that is exactly what they are. Just terrorists!
Instead of wasting time and energy on a possible 'clash of civilizations' theory, the people of the world must converge around 'cooperation amongst civilizations' and get their act together. To rid the world of terrorism and all its evil extensions and manifestations wherever that may be!
What does the world need to do?
What the world need to do must emanate from what needs to be done?
In one sentence, it is the elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations that is the primary requirement of the day.
Staying focused on this aim, the world must make a strenuous effort to eliminate all causes that may lead to acts of terrorism: inequity, injustice, state oppression, economic persecution and others that make a set of people think that they are being consciously and systematically deprived of their legitimate rights.
The world must cease to think of terrorism as an act of any religion. Instead, it must begin to think of it as a serious aberration of sick minds that can belong to any religion.
The world must cease to associate terrorism with a certain kind of people only. Instead, it must begin to think of terrorism as a heinous act that can be conceived and committed by any set of lunatic individuals.
The world must cease to associate terrorism with anyone country. Instead it must begin to focus on terrorism as a crime that can be committed by people belonging to any country across the globe, as truly it has been in the past.
The world must cease to think of terrorism as emanating from any specific area. Instead it must begin to realize that, reason or no reason, terrorism can be the product of any area, any region.
The world must cease to live behind the notion that terrorism belongs to any specific shade, or colour only. Instead it must come open to the fact that terrorism is not partial to any shade, or any colour.
So, if terrorism is to be eliminated, and there should be no doubt or ambiguity about this primary aim, then the world must also begin to focus on taking the right initiatives to do so.
It must begin to join hands with all other people of the world in this supreme task without a shade of doubt about their integrity, level of commitment, or resolve.
It must begin to think of others as equal partners in this fight against terrorism rather than as people to be looked upon with suspicion.
It must begin to take the war against terrorism as a fight that the entire world is totally committed to without any reservation. So, everyone's efforts are to be recognized and acknowledged without discrimination.
Everyone's efforts are meaningful.
Everyone's efforts are a step forward in its war to eliminate the menace of terrorism.
Let's forget about the 'clash of civilizations'. Let's concentrate on unity amongst the people of the world.
If the world is to remain focused on the primary objective of eliminating terrorism in all its shapes and manifestations, it must begin to remodel itself on innovative and realistic lines. Instead of being divided, it must refocus itself on unity all around to
present one face to the perpetrators of terrorism no matter where they come from, or what clothes they wear, or what colour of skin they are gifted with.
Instead of being sceptical of others' intentions, all people of the world must begin to believe in others as much as they believe in themselves. Therein lies the way to a quick and total elimination of terrorism. The dark and dreadful faces of terrorism can be unmasked through a unified approach amongst all countries of the world, all nations of the world, all people of the world.
So, let's forget about the prospect of any 'clash of civilizations'. Instead, let's focus on getting together to fight against a cancer that is out to undo not just a few people, or a few nations, or a few countries, but the entire world.
The face of terrorism is not there to hit a few targets only. It is out to annihilate the entire mankind. So, the entire mankind has to get its act together through unity of purpose and commitment.
Only then will mankind live to see the end of this heinous spectre called terrorism.
Author is a distinguished scholar. He is ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan.
A distinguished scholar. He is ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan. 
