The debate over Kasab’s trial has been raging for along time – a bit too long, some would say. Even Kasab seems to think so. He has confessed to all his crimes and has asked the court to hang him. However, the debate is still on as to what the next step should be.This was expected to be a long drawn out trial, an opportunity for many to make it to the front pages of the daily papers. But, now Kasab has dashed the hopes of all those who were hoping for this trial to be their claim to fame.

Initially, the debate was whether to grant Kasab the right to have an attorney, to defend him in a court of law. A vast majority believed that the pictures of Kasab brandishing an AK-47 were enough proof to pronounce him guilty. However, an equal majority felt that it was only fair to allow him a fair trial, and the right to an attorney. This debate is now useless, as the constitution has been upheld, and Kasab is being defended by lawyer Abbas Kazmi in a special court at Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail.

Now, with the unexpected confession, it was only natural to hope that the trial would end speedily and justice dispensed quickly – something the Indian judicial system is not accustomed to – but could we be more wrong.

Kasab’s confession seems to have opened a whole new can of worms.

First, his lawyer decided to quit, because his client, apparently, did not trust him. Thus, began a court room drama where Judge M. L. Tahiliani and Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam cajoled Abbas Kazmi to continue with the trial, which he eventually did.

Secondly, instead of accepting Kasab’s confession at its face value, the court could want to investigate whether the confession was made under duress, or by free will. It is expected that terrorists are trained to play mind games, and this could be Kasab’s game plan. The court is not going to fall for it, though what Kasab expects to get out of it, is anyone’s guess.

Thirdly, the confession seems to have won international sympathy for Kasab. He seems to have become a victim of chance, more than a terrorist by choice. Hillary Clinton’s statement during an interview with The Nation, a partner of the Asia News Network, sums it up:

“What I found so interesting about his confession is that he was a young man without much purpose in life, he was in a job he did not find satisfying and was susceptible to the blandishment of terrorist organisations — this will make you feel strong and powerful, this will give you a meaning and purpose in your life; and he bought into that and joined this group that was trained for the Mumbai attacks.”

Hillary Clinton’s statement seems to suggest that every man, or woman, who does not find his or her job satisfying, could resort to terrorism to give meaning and purpose to their lives. Jokes apart, what Hillary Clinton wants to convey with this statement is unclear.

It is only fair to give everyone a chance to a fair trial, especially in a country like India, where it is easy to frame someone on false charges. But, in a case like Kasab’s what are we trying to prove with the trial. That question is open for every Indian to answer.