In the name of revenge?

Pointless to have hordes of policemen or forces on guard if they can do nothing to stop the killers.

So what do we call the latest bombing in Quetta which has killed at least 24 people? A security breach? Evidence of just how powerful the terrorists still are? Proof of intelligence failure? Or perhaps each of the above. But it is also most of all an awful tragedy which will only add to the sense of constant insecurity all of us have learnt to live with as a constant presence in our lives.

The two suicide bombers who struck within minutes of each other in the heavily guarded Civil Lines area of Quetta appeared to be targeting the Frontier Corps. The first bomber blew up his vehicle near the car of the deputy head of the paramilitary force in Balochistan, Farrukh Shahzad. The second bomber then reportedly rammed his vehicle through the gates of his house, detonating what must have been a heavy load of explosives. Several guards were killed, as was Shahzad’s wife. He himself is reported to have been injured and his house badly damaged. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the blast which they say is revenge for senior al Qaeda leader alMauritani’s arrest. The details will continue to come in; the police have gathered around the spot of the incident. But in many ways, their findings, whatever they may be, are irrelevant. What is most disturbing, beyond the toll of death, is that the terrorists were able to bring vehicles laden with explosives into a ‘red’ security zone. No one appears to have challenged them as they drove to a point close to the commissioner’s office. We must ask how this breach occurred; an inquiry is required. There have been many other such lapses before.

In the kind of times we live in, we simply cannot allow security lapses to continue. The security apparatus needs to improve its performance, especially as far as intelligence on the militant outfits targeting government forces is concerned. Furthermore, the possibility of the attackers getting inside help from some sympathisers must also be explored. Means to do so must be discovered; expert help sought for this. It is pointless to have hordes of policemen or paramilitary forces guard buildings or stand at pickets if they can do nothing to stop the killers or prevent them from striking at will.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th,  2011.