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WEEKLY
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| Taliban’s revenge |
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Sunday, June 14, 2009
The PC Peshawar blast is indeed very tragic and will impact heavily on the city’s already tarnished image. Peshawar is burning again and it isn’t for the first time. The city faced the same situation more than two decades ago as a consequence of our adventures in Afghanistan and Kashmir initiated by the worst thing that has ever happened to this country — the rule of General Zia. More than 20 years down the road the city is again a soft target for militants – this time at the hands of the very jihadis whom we patronised to achieve ‘strategic depth’.
While there cannot be any two opinions about the fact that our security agencies are neither capable nor equipped to control such incidents, one fails to understand what was stopping the hotel owner from improving security at his hotels especially after the Marriott attack? The CCTV footage of the Peshawar attack clearly exposes the poor security arrangements in place at what should have been one of the safest places in the city. Apart from a couple of guards and barrier on the front gate, there was absolutely nothing to stop the vehicle hitting the main compound of the hotel!
The fact that an explosives-laden truck reached the hotel is indeed a failure of the security agencies but had there been a second tier of security, a second line of defence, inside the hotel premises, the tragedy could have been averted or at least the damage could have been minimised. It seems that the hotel management was relying on the government and of course God to save people from another tragedy after the Marriott incident. We have lost so many precious lives yet again — the image of our city has struck rock bottom. Foreigners have started leaving the city and donors have suspended their operations. As a result, relief efforts for IDPs are going to suffer badly. May God give us more wisdom and will to act rather than just blaming others for our sufferings!
Mujahid Saleem Farooqui
Peshawar
*****
The response by the militants of sending scores of suicide bombers across the country was predictable. But this is also an indication that for the first time ever, in the post 9/11 world, Pakistan is taking serious note of the extremists. In fact, the recent chain of suicide attacks is ample proof of the desperation in ranks of the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies.
However, the cancer is very deep-rooted and hence the fight to eliminate it and remove it from the body of the nation will be a tough one. With the exception of a few people such as Imran Khan or the JI’s Munawar Hasan, just about everyone is on board vis-a-vis the military operation.
The jihadis were created by the establishment for the establishment. They were trained and armed and initially their targets were the Soviets. Now this monster has started killing its own creators. While this fight is important we should also not forget to remind ourselves that this is also an opportunity for the nation to ensure that in future the clergy is restricted to a specific role and that their dogma which has so far powered the forces of darkness is wiped out.
Bahadar Ali Khan
Markham, ON, Canada
*****
The truth is always bitter and hard to swallow but the truth tracks you down like a cruise missile and you have to face it one day or the other. We Pakistanis, despite bleeding at the hands of these terrorists, still cook up excuses for them saying that they are fellow Muslims and are playing in the hands of India and America.
The cold hard truth is that not foreigners but fellow Pakistanis and fellow Muslims have gutted the nation and while there may be foreign involvement of some kind in terms of arms and logistics, the hand that sets off the bomb and carry to the target comes from within us.
Fatima Riaz
Bahawalpur
*****
Adding to Razia Mohyuddin’s letter on June 11, I would say that we all will miss Lali Jan. May Allah bless his soul. To those behind the attack on the PC, let me assure you that Peshawar is here to stay and will only get stronger. Long live Peshawar, long live Pakistan.
Abdul Mujib
Peshawar
*****
The pattern of terrorist attacks at Rescue 15 and the ISI office in Lahore and the PC in Peshawar is similar. An explosives-laden truck manages to pass through the initial barrier and is made to explode. One or two terrorists come out and begin indiscriminate firing. It is precisely at this point that security at the gate must be trained to take cover, not run away, and fire at the driver of the vehicle and at its tyres. Such security personnel need to be fit, well-trained and have automatic weapons. Further, snap checking of vehicles, especially larger ones must be done regardless of any inconvenience caused — ideally with the help of sniffer dogs. Such measures need to be adopted immediately at all hotels and public places.
Col (r) Syed M Arif Zaki
Rawalpindi
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ISSN 1563-9479 
