Letters to The Editor — April 8, 2026

Forever wars

An Israeli peace activist recently described Gaza, Iran and Lebanon as fronts in “one forever war”. That phrase captures a tragic truth many prefer not to confront: these conflicts are no longer isolated eruptions of violence but parts of a continuous, self-sustaining cycle driven by fear, retaliation, political survival, and hardened narratives on all sides. Each round of fighting is justified as necessary, defensive, and unavoidable. Yet, every strike plants the seeds of the next. Civilians pay the highest price while leaders speak in the language of security, deterrence, and survival. What makes this “forever war” so dangerous is not only the destruction that it causes but also the way that it reshapes thinking. It convinces societies that peace is naive, that empathy is weakness, and that perpetual conflict is the natural order. Voices calling for dialogue, and political courage are often dismissed as unrealistic. Yet, history shows that “forever wars” end only when people dare to imagine an alternative and demand that leaders pursue it.

Jagjit Singh,

Los Altos, California, U.S.

Sattankulam case

The well-reasoned judgment in the Sattankulam case brings closure to a gruesome murder which was committed with impunity by those who are expected to uphold the law, procedures and guidelines related to interrogation. That the CBI took painstaking efforts to establish the offence merits commendation of a high order. The sanctity of human rights has prevailed.

V. Johan Dhanakumar,

Chennai