What happens on the streets of Britain raises concerns in Pakistan for a number of reasons, but more importantly for the fact that more or less everyone in Pakistan has relatives living in the UK, either as immigrants or students. The killing of a serving British soldier on a busy street in Woolwich area of London on Wednesday is certainly a matter of concern not only for people of Pakistan but other Muslims around the world because the perpetrator claimed himself to be a Muslim and made it a point to openly state revenge as the motive of his act. Keeping aside why the British media served the purpose of this terrorist by showing his statement while he was holding blood-soaked chopper and knife in his hand, both his act and statement were enough to provoke hatred against Muslims with a potential to trigger communal conflict. In such situations usually emotions overpower reason. There were few incidences of outburst of anger by English Defence League that night, but those were controlled by the police. Terrorists play up with human emotions with an aim of unleashing conflicts within communities through blame games. This shift in attention to internal turmoil is often a dream of terrorist to achieve many goals in one go. Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech in response to Woolwich incident was a call to act with reason rather than reacting by dictates of emotions and impulse. At the same time, it is highly significant for Muslims inside and outside Britain, as it reflected a different point of view different from the common narrative about Muslims. What Mr Cameron said in his speech after chairing Cobra meeting on Thursday is noteworthy, not only for its effect of diffusing tensions within communities residing in Britain but for its philosophical content as a valuable approach to avert terrorism globally by unifying all those who are victims of terrorism against all those who are perpetrators of barbaric acts. Researches have revealed that terrorists aim at spreading fear and unrest among people by committing acts that have visual significance and ability to create panic and reactions. One of the most sought after reactions of terrorists is public unrest. By stating their ties with a particular religion, sect or ethnicity they provoke reaction and friction within diversified communities. That is why the late Prime Minister Margret Thatcher had said that media coverage provides oxygen to terrorists. It was surprising to see how various British channels conveyed terrorists’ point of view in Woolwich incident without assessing an impact on public reaction. Significance of Mr Cameron’s speech for the Muslims lies not only in its cooling down effect on volatile community relations but also for setting a direction to look at Muslims with a different prism. What he said is rare to hear particularly in the west. While separating terrorists from normal Muslims he recognised the positive value of Muslim community in British society and also pointed out their victimisation by terrorists by saying that terrorism has taken more Muslim lives than of people from any other religion. Mr Cameron’s speech rectifies the misunderstood view of Islam as he said, “This was not just an attack on Britain, and on our British way of life, it was also a betrayal of Islam, and of the Muslim communities who have given so much to our country. There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act.” Adding, “We will defeat violent extremism by standing together…” Separating out terrorists from Muslims rather than treating both as synonymous is a big correction that was required about the world view on Islam. Often painting all Muslims with one brush is a mistake that leads to divisions on the basis of religion and ethnicity rather than unifying victims versus perpetrators in the context of terrorism. Mr Cameron asserted, “The people who did this were trying to divide us. They should know: something like this will only bring us together and make us stronger.” This is no doubt an effective strategy for combating terrorism by denying terrorists what they want to achieve through disturbing social harmony. The answer for terrorists’ purpose to create social and communal conflict is a well-coordinated common strategy by diverse elements of society effected by terrorism in one way or the other. A rational and coherent action by all, irrespective of religion, sects and ethnicity, remains the only way forward to defeat a terrorist mindset that aims to create a divide through acts and words alike. As humanity has no religion, the same way ‘terrorism’, which is the most ‘inhumane’ act on earth, has no boundaries and no religion. It is just a mindset. Acts of terrorism clearly reveal that terrorists misuse and abuse religions to create conflicts. They defy injunctions of religions as none of the religions on earth permits committing harm to innocent people. Mr Cameron rightly recognised in his speech that there is nothing in Islam that justifies that truly dreadful act. Mr Cameron’s speech is an eye-opener for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This approach could be an effective weapon in defeating terrorism not only in Britain but globally. Terrorists aim to block a coherent action to uproot terrorism by creating conflicts in societies. Ideally in such a situation both Muslims and non-Muslims should be working in close coordination globally, and in Pakistan we should strategise to counter terrorism beyond the folds of sectarianism and ethnicity. As acts of terrorism are often based on distorted beliefs, they need to be defeated by challenging the poisonous narrative of extremism on which this violence feeds. The writer is a former press attaché Pakistan High Commission, London