Sunday's suicide bombing
of Peshawar's Old Saints Church was among
the worst terrorist
attacks in Pakistan history, killing at least 85. Taliban
spokespeople say
the attack was in retaliation for American drone strikes
against
Muslims.
Unable to Strike U.S. Targets, Frustrated Taliban Murder
Christians (Pakistan Tribune, Pakistan)
"The Taliban claim to be waging war on the United States
for its policies toward the Muslim world. However, since being attacked by U.S.
drones, the militants have few physical American targets to avenge themselves
against. Frustrated by this, the militants have turned their guns on proxy
targets, attacking mosques, religious gatherings, and worshiping congregations."
Christians in Pakistan march against intolerance, after one of the deadliest terrorist attack in Pakitan's history. The duel suicide bombings at Peshawar's 135-year-old Old Saints Church killed at least 85 people. Taliban claimed responsibility as retaliation for U.S. drone strikes.
PESHAWAR:
When it comes to the state's failure to live up to its constitutional duty to
protect the life and property of its citizens, especially minorities, September
22, 2013 will be remembered as a black day in Pakistan's history. On the morning
of this fateful day, two suicide bombers snuck into historic All Saints Church
in Peshawar and detonated themselves. This proved to be one of deadliest
attacks in the nation's history, as at least 85 worshippers lost their lives,
with scores others critically injured. A police official at the church was also
killed.
At
the time of blast, worshippers were leaving for a free meal served on the
church lawn. This killing of innocent Christians has drawn widespread
condemnation, both locally and abroad. U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki moon also condemned this unprovoked killing of peaceful
worshippers.
On
Monday, Pakistan's Christian community continued to mourn and protest across the
country. In every city and town in Pakistan, they took to the streets to express
their sense of insecurity and discrimination in a society being radicalized at
an alarming speed.
The
Jund-al-Hafsa (Army of HafsaR.A.), a wing of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, was quick to claim responsibility for
the attack. A spokesperson vowed to continue targeting non-Muslims in revenge for
Muslims killed in U.S. drone operations in Pakistan's tribal region.
On
the same day, a drone strike killed seven alleged militants in North Waziristan
Agency. Finding a cause and effect relationship between drone operations
and terrorist activity is easy. One reinforces the other when it comes to
destabilizing Pakistan. The United States maintains that the tribal areas bordering
Afghanistan are sanctuaries for Taliban militants, and that drone operations
are highly effective for curbing militancy. On the other hand, Pakistan has
always maintained that drones strikes are counterproductive and a source of
increased militancy and internal threats.
Posted By
Worldmeets.US
Over
the past nine years, drone strikes have shown very limited success. The number of top al-Qaeda militants eliminated
through drone strikes is extremely small. Apart from killing a handful of
militants, drone strikes have killed a large number of women and children.
The
Taliban claim to be waging war on the United States for its policies toward the
Muslim world. However, since being attacked by U.S. drones, the militants have
few physical American targets to avenge themselves against. The drones strike
them from thousands of feet in the air. Meanwhile, the United States is
physically thousands of miles away.
Frustrated
by this, the militants have turned their guns on proxy targets, attacking mosques,
religious gatherings, worshiping congregations and government and military
installations, only to sow fear within society. Attacks on government and
military installations are justified with charges they are part of America's
proxy war, but there is no logic to killing innocent Pakistanis, whatever their
religious beliefs.
So
while this latest bombing of Peshawar's All Saints Church is considered an
attack on a proxy target, it is wholly unjustified - even if a majority of
people in United States practice Christianity and the Taliban are at war with
the United States. Christians living in Pakistan are largely peaceful citizens
who are often deprived of their constitutional rights.
Sunday’s
bombing has once again raises serious questions about Islamabad's capacity to
curb militancy and protect the lives and property of innocent Pakistanis,
especially minorities.
