The official said that militants destroyed two very old shrines in the Kam Shalman area, which is close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, at around 10:30pm on December 9.
“These shrines were those of Sheikh Bahadar Baba and Sheikh Nisa Baba,” he said while speaking to The Express Tribune.
“The militants blew up the shrine of Bahadar Baba by placing a bomb in it, razing it to the ground. While the shrine of Sheikh Nisa was burnt down to ashes when the militants set it ablaze,” the official said.
The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has carried out similar attacks in the same area in the past.
Caretaker killed
A middle-aged man was killed by unknown gunmen at the Baisai Baba shrine on Saturday, officials confirmed. Authorities could not immediately confirm the identity of the man, but he was recognised as the “caretaker of the shrine”.
Sources said the Basai Baba shrine had earlier been closed by militant outfit Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI).
More than 25 shrines across Pakistan have been attacked since 2005, resulting in the deaths of more than 200 people. More than 55 people were killed in August this year when a suicide bomber detonated during Friday prayers at a mosque in Jamrud, Khyber Agency.
A surgical operation was launched in Khyber Agency after a number of security personnel were killed and government installations were attacked.
Militant factions have also been fighting amongst themselves on sectarian grounds.
COMMENTS (11)
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Attacks on Sufi shrines in KP and FATA are aimed at parting ways with established cultural norms and constructing a new identity born out of extremism. read in detail http://wp.me/pXYKS-3L
Let's give peace a chance and let's negotiate with these terrorists. Let them destroy our shrines and schools but let them not tell anything. Let us all say to them Give Peace a Chance. Let them destroy us and let us say Give Peace a chance.
@Kamran Khattak: Why blame PPP man, these negotiations cannot happen unless army has backed it.
@Sami: These customs have been there since time immemorial. Why do you want everyone to follow your version of religion. Everyone has the right to practice their rituals in whatever way they wish to. Are you implying that anyone who doesn't follow your peaceful religion will be vanished?
Right sami. Allah has all the power not the Taliban. if someone is doing shirk Allah will deal himself with him. Its none of your business if someone is doing shirk.
We dont want any peace talk with Taliban
@Sami: We understand who you are please! Closet Taliban !
Going to shrine is completely against the spirit of Islam. Its call "shirk" with Allah and these customs like URS and Shrine must be vanished from our society. Allah has all the powers, not someone who has died years ago. Try to understand Please.
This was yours IMRAN idea, to have a peace talk. Dont outburst bad about PPP now, Nation with double standards
The fruits of "Peace Talk" by Rehman Malik
This morning Taliban leader Molvi faqir confirms Pakistani Government of PPP doing negotiations with them so that they can have free of destroying more shrines across Pakistan. Shame on so called secular government of PPP. Aren't these Talibans not the same group who murdered BB in pindi?
So this is the answer you got from terrorists about peace talks.I REJECT any talks which only gives them time to regroup and than resume their violence.