The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is in the throes of a crisis. Not a day passes without the country being rocked by Terror Attacks. These encompass the entire country from Lahore to Karachi and the restive provinces of Baluchistan and the North West Frontier areas.
The latest carnage took place at Parachinar close to the Afghanistan border. The double bombing by suicide bombers shook the region and as per reports, almost 85 persons have been killed. The fact that the bombings took place during the holy month of Ramadan shows that terrorist groups have scant respect for religious sanctity.
The Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has declared a state of emergency in the area and ordered security to be tightened. In a statement as reported by Al Jazeera channel, he said:" Terrorists are attacking soft targets and no Muslim can ever imagine committing such horrific act, such acts of terrorism will be dealt with the full power of the state." The blasts took place on the last Friday of Ramadan just ahead of Eid-al-Fitr Al Jazeera channel reported.
Pakistan reaction to attack
The statement by the Pakistan Premier does not amount to much. He has been making similar statements all the time but there is no dent in terrorist killings. A researcher at King's College in London named Zoha Waseem, a Pakistani has expressed her apprehension about the ad hoc measures, saying that these are a reaction to violence carried out by the terror groups and actually, result in a proliferation of terror attacks as well as cement their support.She feels that giving sweeping powers to the security forces led by the Army are always counter-productive.
Terror attacks
The attack in Parachinar is part of a long line of terror attacks from the attack on a Shia mosque in Sind to attacks on Christians celebrating Easter in a park in Lahore. Parachinar is part of the seven autonomous provinces of the North West Frontier. The hold of all rulers of this area including the British has been tenuous.
The tribes are difficult to subdue and they are now infested with terror groups that want Wahabbi laws and Sharia to be implemented. Prominent among them is the Pakistan Taliban.
Last word
Terror activities in Pakistan have proliferated as the policy of the Pakistan government of nurturing some terror groups as part of "strategic defense" in the hope that they will attack only India has backfired and now Pakistan is itself beset by terror attacks. The genie is out and one wonders who will bottle it again.
