Rampage in Lahore

Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, became the target of terrorist attack within a month of the gruesome attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers in the same city. This time the terrorists carefully selected the vulnerable Police Training Academy in the city, keeping it under siege for more than eight hours and holding about 800 new police recruits as hostages. The Pakistan Police aided by paramilitary forces and the army finally recaptured the Academy after eight hours of gruelling fight resulting in the death of four terrorists, more than twenty police recruits and as many as 90 injured. The terrorists were heavily armed and three of them blew themselves up. The forces reportedly captured three terrorists alive. From their admission it became clear that they were Afghan Taliban from South Waziristan.Now, Baitullah Mehsud, Chief of banned Tehreek –e- Taliban of Pakistan has claimed responsibility of the Lahore carnage to retaliate against Drone attack by USA within the tribal territory. He also warned that his next target would be Washington DC. Their spokesman also demanded that Pakistan army should be withdrawn from the tribal territory and the Chief Cleric of Red Mosque kept under detention be released. Any terrorist attack anywhere deserves severe condemnation and this Lahore attack on police recruit should also be condemned with equal vehemence.

The Taliban is the creation of Pakistan’s ISI. The Swing of the ISI is reportedly in constant contact with the Taliban aiding and abetting it. The FBI had found evidence that the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul was carried out by the Taliban under instructions from the ISI.While Pakistan’s political instability has allowed the Taliban to grow, it has now almost the entire North Western Frontier Province virtually under its control. The recent agreement with the Taliban to promulgate Shariat Law in Swat valley has given the Taliban enough power. They have also taken over control of Emerald mines run by Pakistan government. This will allow them enough money power to fund terrorist activities. Pakistan’s military-God father of the militants- has now found that the Taliban monster had grown too big to be brought under control. The civilian government has neither the will nor support of the army to fight the terrorists like Taliban nurtured within their backyard. President Barack Obama has made it clear that the Taliban must be controlled by Pakistan and Drone attack would continue so long Taliban attack US forces in Afghanistan. The US Defence Secretary Robert Gates stated that the Pakistan’s ISI has had links with the extremists for a long time. Pakistan must understand that these groups are an existential threat to them, Will Pakiatan listen to the USA? ASSAM TRIBUNE