Initially they attacked in name of religion, then collateral damage and now, they target particular places and people
ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to the article “Justifying the killing of Christians” (September 26). The writer has been trying to explain that there is no concept of ‘friendly’ Taliban and the attack on Church in Peshawar was the responsibility of Taliban, who later on, denied the attacks. There is no doubt that the killing of any Christian, Hindu or even Muslim is the killing of humanity and those who have interpreted Islam according to their own style cannot be Muslims at all. I do, however, believe that the attack on the church or other places in Pakistan is not considered jihad against non-Muslims. I think this is the reaction of the attacks against different jihadi groups in Fata.
I do not get to decide who is right and who is wrong, but the continuous attacks in Fata, either by drones or surface targets, have led some people to respond in this manner. For more than a decade, our soldiers have been fighting with these groups and during this time, we have received harsh responses. I think that the modality of today’s terrorism has changed. Initially they were attacking in the name of religion, then in the name of collateral damage and now, they are targeting particular places and people. And for that, some foreign hands are fuelling these groups, (these include our friends and enemies, too). I think that instead of focusing on just one part of the story, one must look at the other bits of the situation too.
Javed Ali Kalhoro
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2013.
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