On Independence Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s speech will focus on terrorism. In the light of the Mumbai blasts and reports of Al Qaeda threats to Indian installations, terrorism will inevitably receive top priority from the PM this year. The fundamental point will be that India’s development hinges, to a large extent, on being able to tackle the factories of terrorism mushrooming in its neighbourhood — from the terrorists in Pakistan and Bangladesh to the Left-wing Maoists in Nepal.

The government is vague about how such a development is to be executed or monitored in other countries. But it is intended to send a strong message on terrorism. It will also be a way to keep the heat on Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf — who is certain to escape international pressure after Pakistan’s "assistance" in uncovering the UK terror plot.