Pakistan’s Date with Suicide Terror: Sectarian Schism or Taliban’s Ire?

By Animesh Roul

Pakistan has been battling a two-headed monster: sectarian militant forces and pro-Taliban elements. The country, often tagged as ‘safe heaven’ and ‘breeding ground’, experienced a wave of suicide attacks in the last fortnight. While couple of them was carried out in the capital Islamabad, at least five more such attacks took place in the restive North West Frontier Province (NWPF). Long-standing sectarian divide in the Pakistani society and pro-Taliban outrage thought to be the cause of these attacks. Pakistani authorities seem largely clueless, but suspect Taliban sympathizers and groups directly affiliated with al Qaeda in Waziristan, are responsible.

This could be plausible as the ongoing backlash was expected against Musharraf regime for its anti-Taliban tirade, along with Western forces in the Afghanistan border. He has been trying too hard to rein the Jihadi element and simultaneously wish to win back the confidence of USA and Western alliance by “doing enough to tackle homegrown terror.” (Recently, a documentary broadcasted by BBC World Television, highlighted Pakistan’s involvement in the war against terror and also President Pervez Musharraf’s role in it.)

Not long ago, Baitullah Mehsud a Taliban commander vowed to avenge air strikes at Zamzola (in South Waziristan) in mid-January. The air strike killed over 20 suspected Talibans. Military strike at Bajaur is still fresh in Taliban mind as well. Also, the recent drive against shadowy Mosques and Madarsas that angered many in Pakistan would not be ruled out as an igniting factor. Meanwhile, Baitullah denied any role in recent suicide attacks.

After the Marriott hotel and Peshawar incidents, Pakistan security forces carried out extensive swooping and taken many into custody. Lahore police have arrested five Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) cadres including Rizwan, who is supposed to have taken charge of the outfit presently after the Akram Lahori’s arrest. In a crack down intelligence agencies have arrested 11 more militants, including one linked to Baitullah Mahsud, from Karachi and Hyderabad in early February.

Although Pakistan intelligence apparatus were aware of at least 10 terrorist plots, which could target hotels and buildings, frequented by high profile Pakistani and Western officials, they failed to prevent the Jihadi elements so far. Also intelligence inputs indicated that female fidayeens and couple of Uzbek nationals have been assigned to carry out suicide attacks on these installations. More attacks of similar nature cant be ruled out.

Timelines of Recent Suicide Attacks:

February 6: The attacker blew himself up in the car park area of Islamabad airport killing himself and injuring at least 10 people, mostly security force personnel. Police sources said that the two men who had arrived at the airport with the attacker were later arrested and shifted for interrogation.

February 03: A suicide attack on a military convoy coming from Dera Ismail Khan took place in the Barakhel area (Tank district) in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The attack killed at least two soldiers and left seven others critically injured. On the same day, in southern Lakki Marwat district of NWFP a blast triggered by a Fidayeen, damaged shops in the vicinity.

January 29: suicide bomber killed two people, including a policeman, at Dera Ismail Khan in NWFP. The bomber triggered the explosion while police tried to search him.

January 27: At least fifteen people including senior police officials killed and over 50 others injured in a suicide attack targeting a Muharram procession near Qasim Ali Khan Mosque, located in Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar. Peshawar police commissioner Mallik Muhammad Saad and Deputy Superintendent of Police were among those killed in the attack. The blast caused a power blackout in the area. The incident has all signs of Shia-Sunni schism, though the administration was cautious to tag it as sectarian violence. The blast was suspected to have been perpetrated by the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni terrorist group closely affiliated to al Qaeda network and has a history of deadly anti Shia attacks in Pakistan.

January 26: A suicide bomber blew himself up outside Hotel Marriott in Islamabad. A security guard was killed and some five persons were injured. The suicide bombing occurred ahead of a Republic Day (of India) celebration at the hotel hosted by Indian High Commission.

Foiled Attempts During Muharram

January 29: Police apprehended at least six persons and seized as many as six suicide belts from Nawab Zafar colony in Dera Ismail Khan. The arrested persons were believed to target Muharram processions in the area.

January 28: A suicide attack was foiled in Dera Ismail Khan and the Fidayeen was arrested with the suicide belt. The attack was targeted a Muharram procession.

Meanwhile, there has been all indications that Washington and Islamabad would step up their joint effort to curb the resurgent Taliban in the coming months. Both the US and Afghan governments have put enough pressure on Pakistan to take more action against Taliban and al Qaeda elements operating in its territory.

High profile visits to Pakistan are still continuing with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer presently doing the round. The idea is to set up an effective military alliance that could destroy the remnants of Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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