Those of us who have lived in India or for that matter anywhere in South Asia in the past two decades are all too familiar with rigorous security routines at airports, railway stations and many public places, despite which terrorists have struck time and again with impunity.

So far, perhaps Australasia is the only continent that has remained free of the fears of terrorism though the presence of ragtag outfits has been suspected in Australia over the past few years. Last week’s raids in Australia on suspected terror cells, however, have sought to confirm those fears.

Our geographic isolation and relative low profile in world affairs no longer guarantee of our safety. With increased vigilance in countries where they have been active so far, it is natural that terror organisations will look at newer theatres of action such as Australia and New Zealand where the guard has always been low. After all, what terror organisations look for is grabbing world headlines to spread their terror. Australasia and the Pacific Islands are sitting ducks for their increasingly sophisticated operations.

Our safety, therefore, can no longer be taken for granted. The terror cells across the Tasman allegedly had plans to attack Australian military installations presumably because of Australia’s involvement in Iraq and in fighting fundamentalist ideology-led forces in Afghanistan-Pakistan.

If Australia’s involvement in the Afghan conflict won the terror cells there a ‘fatwa’ from their overseas masters to carry out attacks on Australian soil, it is not impossible that we in New Zealand could also be in their crosshairs – especially since our government has now committed our armed forces for missions in Afghanistan.

At the risk of sounding alarmist, it is important to say that we in the region need to step up our alertness to security matters now more than at any other time: last week’s events in Australia show that the shadow of terror is well and truly at our doorstep.

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This week a former New Zealand Member of Parliament was convicted on bribery and corruption charges. The event has widely been seen as a blot on the country’s squeaky-clean image that has earned it the second spot in the global Corruption Perceptions Index. Though a third of India’s MPs have serious criminal charges slapped against them, one almost never comes across a conviction. Small wonder, then, that India ranks 85th in the index. Numerous studies have shown the direct link between corruption and the unequal distribution of wealth. India is a prime example (see accompanying comment). That’s food for thought on the eve of the country’s 62nd Independence Day.