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!
Come on , why everyone is so nervous and hectic.We have seen even worst days in Lahore in past. I must say they are psychological superior than law enforcement agencies. Crackers just before 9:00 pm when whole Pakistan used to watch main news at all channels and just before 15 minutes they started childish crackers in AI Town , purpose, so simple to gain media attention as there is a race of Breaking News in newly-born free media, to create panic and confusion in people or terrorize them. Friends in AI Town were telling some Shab-e-Barat type sounds of crackers last night. In past also happened to Rafi Theatre and Al-Falah building Mall Road Cinema etc.Lahore was perfectly fine except strike on attack of RA bazar and usual Saturday school holiday.We have been living from 2004 in such situation and people have not given up so they think that Samanabad/AI Town crackers would make us bow before them :)
Someone tries to plug Saeed Jalalpuri murder among the discussions here. Saeed Jalalpuri and his predecessors die under the eternal principle “you live by the sword, you die by the sword”.. Taliban sympathisers die because they have instigated murders themselves.
I hope the families of the victims are able to find courage and hope in this hour of tribulations. I sincerely wish for everlasting world peace.
Although the Tehrik-e-Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervaiz was categorical in saying that India was behind the terror. This will only demonize India, and direct bitterness against India, and free him of the responsibility of securing Lahore.
I hope we all see the sane side of Life.
1) I have said it before and will say it again: There can’t be peace in ‘AfPak’ until there is peace between India and Pakistan. And the road to peace lies through Kashmir. How close we came to that under Musharraf’s rule needs to be discussed as priority.
2) We ask our Indian guests here to not cheapen the discourse by constantly crowing about India-good especially after these tragic attacks. As this blogspace can tell you through its repeated ‘polls’ the educated Pakistanis are wary of military’s role in Pakistan. And yet we also know that it is not beyond India to take advantage of Pakistan’s problems, especially after Pakistan’s supposed involvement in Mumbai 26/11. Also, what Pakistan did in Afghanistan of the 80s was under a brutal military dictatorship and even that was done by a weaker nation trying to stop opening a second-front for Pakistani Army. It ain’t as simple as a Sufi-nation like Pakistan suddenly turning Wahabbi as a collective decision.
3) It took a tiny nation like Sri Lanka more than two decades to quell the insurgency. Today, many if not most parts of Sri Lanka, are scarred by that civil war. Pakistan’s war heated up sometime in 2007. But as late as 2006 Pakistan was on a strong growth path–showing that the ‘fundamentals’ of Pakistani nation are not entirely bad. Every attack by the militants is going to make the Pakistani resolve to crush them even harder. Indeed, that has been the case. So, as Pakistanis die, Pakistanis cry, Pakistanis also fight back.
These are all backed and funded by india. India has numerous bases in afghanistan where they fund these people