Adil Najam and Owais Mughal
Enemies of Pakistan are at it again; killing innocent Pakistanis in their murderous zeal. Murder and mayhem by terrorists has hit the city of Lahore second time in four days. This time in the form of a series of bomb blasts (at leastseven blasts today, according to some reports, and counting) that have already left more than 40 people dead (and counting).
At least seven blasts in Lahore have been reported today, at least 5 of them in Iqbal Town, Lahore. Although some of the later blasts were of less intensity, the goal here was to create panic. And it did. Especially because the terrorists planned them right around the time of Juma prayers – these killers seem to relish the killing the killing of Pakistani Muslims. There are also reports that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for these murders:
… The heads of both alleged bombers were recovered from the scene of the blasts while two suspects were also arrested, the Inspector General of Punjab Tariq Salim Dogar told reporters after the blasts… Meanwhile, the proscribed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed the responsibility for twin Lahore bombings. The blasts took place at 12:48 pm within the space of 15 seconds at R. A. Bazar as crowds gathered for Friday prayers. The blasts were so powerful that it caused cracks in nearby buildings besides shattering window panes. “We have collected concrete technical evidence, which will help identify the attackers. Both the attackers were on foot,” the IGP said.
There is little point in laying out the details here (The News update can be read here). The details keep changing. And yet they never change. We keep writing this same post again and again and again. The heart bleeds no less. The eyes swell up as ever. But the killing goes on.
One is tempted to say that the killing is senseless. But for those who kill, it is not. They know exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it. It is planned murder. And it is planned murder for a very clear effect. It is planned to destabilize Pakistan. Why they wish to do so is irrelevant. That is the effect, and that is the planned effect. But trying to “make sense” of why this is happening is also futile. What we need to think sensibly about is our own reaction to these attacks. Finding “hidden hands” is not going to help since the “hand” is all too obvious. Debates about causes and faults and contexts and history will be important, but right now they are just being used as a device to confuse. If someone can plant a bomb, again and again and again, in the heart of our cities in the midst of our children then at least two things should be clear: one, the enemy IS within us; two, this fight IS our fight.
For those who say this war is not “our” war, we ask: how many Pakistanis have to die before it does become out war! For those who cry about wanting Pakistan to do more, we ask: How many more Pakistanis will need to die before you think we have done enough!
Some time back you had a post about what we can do as citizens.
I think most important is not to let people get away with talk of supporting Taliban types. Just stop people and tell them that they cannot go around supporting the killers of Paksitanis. Just that.
It is the silent support that people give them by trying to come up with conspiracies that is really the curse in our society.
I am praying for Lahore and everyone in Lahore tonight. What a tragedy to my beloved city.
Well said, Sir. Very well said:
For those who say this war is not “our” war, we ask: how many Pakistanis have to die before it does become out war! For those who cry about wanting Pakistan to do more, we ask: How many more Pakistanis will need to die before you think we have done enough!
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “again :S”
– “ya its very bad in lahore”
– “Scare tactics. Certain nefarious interests involved.”
– “very sad”
– “They r trying to creat panic u all know who they r b united to fight against them…they surely r not Pakistani n Muslims as well”
– “stop being in denial. So, they are not Paksitanis! Are they from Mars! Lets accept the problem and the problem lives within us. Then we can solve it. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD. May all Taliban and Taliban supporters rot in hell!”
– “Ya Allah rehem kijiye ….”
– “I think ur the one in denial. TTP has been defeated by Pakistan Army to the extent that they are not capable of these kind of attacks anymore. Till when will people like you keep denying that there are various nefarious foreign agencies involved in this bloodshed inside Pakistan.”
– “ALLAH karam farmaye…..”
– “Aaaaah”
– “They actually just took “credit” for these killings of Muslims and Paksiatnis. Read the post!”
– “They always do. It doesnt matter. The peope funding them are pretty good at this shit.”
– “Indins, they are”
– ” these Iqbal Town blasts are of low intensity as part of the scare tactics….”
– “Indians……”
– “If it makes you happier to believe it is Indians then do so. Lying to ones own self is an old bemaari. But it will not solve our problems. It is the mullahs and the Talibans. And they can do so because there are so many people who provide them “cover” by distracting attention and saying its “Indians”… you all do realize that YOU are supporting these Taliban terrorists by acting as their decoys and supporting their actions by distracting with these fairytale stories!
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD. May all Taliban and all taliban supporters rot in hell.”
– “Its india through these talibans…”
– “u r talking in right sense. The prob is within our own roots. N outsiders enemies r taking advantage of this. They hav not targetted the Pak,, instead they targetted those Pakis who were destroyed by our own Pak Govt.!”
– “its v sad news indeed that we r not safe in our own home. We need to unite and fight. We r Pakistan! and we will fight to secure our home!”
– “Saying “its Indians through the Taliban” would be like saying the Gujaarat killings was by Pakistan through the RSS”…. at least read what you are writing, yaar…. you make NO sense!”
– “People People
No One can deny the role of Raw n Black Water in the disturbance created in our country
but lets talk on fact U r accusing Taliban or Indians or any1 else for the disturbance now a days its nthing but the Flop of ur own policies
Even Afghan Taliban say that v have no enmity towards the Pakistanis they were ur partners before 9/11
they were Mujhadeen n everythng else 4 us n what r they now”
So so sad. One feels so helpless. But in reading your words I also feel strong and sure that we will rise and fight against these Taliban killers.