Insecurity prevails, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) came back with a spectacular attack on security forces convoy targeting commandant Frontier Constabulary (FC) on September 23 in highly fortified Peshawar Cantonment. TTP claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed to carry out more in future. This negates the perception of disruption and destruction of terrorist infrastructure in the wake of military operation.
In its will to eradicate terrorism completely from the country, on 15th June, 2014[1] Government of Pakistan launched a military operation (Zarb-e-Azb) in the western, Federally Administered Tribal Area’s (FATA) agency, North Waziristan, where Al-Qaida and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are stationed. Military operation by army is supported by Pakistan Air Force’s strikes against TTP hideouts. Meanwhile, US drone campaign has also sped up since the start of operation in June, killing almost 66 militants with last strike on September 24.[2]
Only after weeks of the attack in Karachi’s Naval dockyard, the attack on the FC convoy killing 5 and injuring 21[3] in a high security zone where a suicide bomber driving a 45 kg[4] explosive laden vehicle hit the armor plated jeep of commandant FC resulting in his injury, raises eyebrows. Furthermore, it also raises question how the vehicle with explosives managed to enter cantonment despite of heavy guard and checkpoints?
As a personal witness to the attack, it happened near Peshawar Cantonment Railway station and Rescue 1122 building facing each other at a busy Sadar Road, in the early office and rush hour. As I got out of the taxi and started walking towards the adjacent Fort Road, a huge bang I heard almost 200 meters away, in front of my eyes, smoke clouds, screaming and indiscriminate firing in panic by FC expecting yet another suicide attack.
The significance of the attack can be gauged by the fact that all important government buildings are located in 1 kilometer (KM) radius of the blast site (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission Office, the Governor House, and historic Edwards College). However, the area was cordoned off by Pakistan Army and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Police within minutes of the attack. Nobody was allowed to enter or exit from the crime scene. It took an hour for me to get out of the crime scene after a complete security check.
Already in a political turmoil Pakistan faces acute crisis with respect to militancy in its west (Pakistan faces a security crisis by a combination of Islamist militants and terrorists). So far no sound Counter Insurgency (COIN) policy and strategy has been formulated. Although, in general, terror incidents have come down significantly but TTP is able to attack targets at will anywhere, anytime and anybody in particular. More worrisome is the fact that radicalism is growing apart from the tribal areas, in urban areas, and in every major city of Pakistan. Spokesperson for TTP Shahid-ullah-Shahid said to a news agency,
“We are still as active now as in the past and will show the mirror to the PML-N as we showed the ANP (Awami National Party).”[5]
PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) led by Nawaz Sharif is a ruling political party in the parliament, whereas, the Awami National party (People National Party) is an ethnic party from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with secular and leftist ideological leanings. Insecurity within Pakistani borders is definitely due to power games in the geo-political scenario of the region. It has geo-strategic consequences. And on the face of it Pakistan seems to be lacking a clear direction to resolve the crisis and secure its own state in chaos.
Abbas Ahmad. CRSS Research Fellow
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[1] Zahir Shah Sherazi, “Zarb-e-Azb operation: 120 militants killed in N Waziristan, Dawn, June 16, 2014
[2] Drone Wars Pakistan: Analysis, http://securitydata.newamerica.net/drones/pakistan/analysis (accessed September 25, 2014)
[3] Dawn, September 24, 2014
[4] Dawn, September 24, 2014
[5] Riaz Ahmad, “TTP claims responsibility for suicide attack in Peshawar, The Express Tribune, September 23, 2014, http://tribune.com.pk/story/766010/3-killed-in-peshawar-bomb-explosion/ (accessed September 25, 2014)