Terror in Darra Adamkhel

The insanity of the Taliban was on display yet again in the bomb attack on the mosque in Darra Adamkhel, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. An estimated 50 people who were gathered for Friday prayers at the mosque were brutally murdered in an attack that was as savage as it was pointless. What exactly do the Taliban hope to achieve through their vicious attacks on innocent civilians? What cause justifies such wanton murder? A similar attack occurred in Peshawar last month, at a mosque during Friday prayers. Five people were killed then. The ruthlessness of the terrorists has been getting more effective even as the government’s response seems to remain as feeble as ever. It has become customary to see police officers assigned to guard mosques during Friday prayers, in some parts of the country, to prevent this sort of event. While we understand that the police force cannot be everywhere, it is relevant to ask whether this mosque had been assigned protection that other areas have been given.

We do not mean to denigrate the service of the police force of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, members of which have been heroic and performed well beyond the call of duty on many an occasion. But they are clearly ill-equipped and out-gunned by a terrorist force that appears to be far better funded and has the perennial advantage of surprise attacks. Far too much attention and funding for counter-terrorism seems to go to the military and not nearly enough towards buttressing law enforcement capabilities. Ultimately, however, this menace will be rid from our society when ordinary Pakistanis stop living in denial. These terrorists are from amongst us and it is up to us to take a stand against their vile, murderous hatred. Otherwise, we will continue to bleed, as our brethren in Darra Adamkhel did today.

Published in The Express Tribune November 6^th, 2010.