All’s well that ends well

Security measures during Ahsura

Finally, the Ashura is over. With the exception of the D I Khan, bordering South Waziristan, where a dozen people died in attacks on two consecutive days, the security measures succeeded in foiling the designs of the sectarian terrorists. The government faced a big challenge and deserves credit for meeting it by and large successfully. What made it possible was better coordination between the civilian and military intelligence agencies and federal and provincial security establishment. A vigilant police seized a vehicle loaded with explosives in Karachi on the eve of the Ashura. Similarly, a number of suspects were also arrested in various cities of the country. Major cities, particularly Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, posed the biggest challenge. Despite the inconvenience caused by the decision to ban the mobile telephone service and motorbikes, the move paid off. This said, industry and trade suffer badly on account of the suspension of the mobile service and ban on motorbike riding. The latter also hinders tens of thousands of students from proceeding to schools and colleges. Similarly, government servants cannot attend their offices on account of the ban. The agencies cannot be realistically kept in a state of high alert all the time.

The claim by the TTP spokesman that the measures taken by the government would not deter suicide bombers from attacks turned out to be a bluff. In Karachi, which is among the most populous cities of the world, there was no incidence of violence. In Quetta, where Hazara Shias have been targeted with a scary frequency, Ashura processions remained safe. This should not however lead anyone to become complacent or indulge in braggadocio. The terrorist networks are still secure and operative, their sleeper cells active and the capacities they have acquired still intact. To prove this, the terrorists attacked a police van in Peshawar on Monday and detonated a bomb in Karachi killing one and injuring several.

The government has to realise that until terrorist networks are eradicated, the attacks will continue. Two measures have to be taken to achieve the goal. First, tribal agencies, including North Waziristan, have to be cleared of all types of militants. This is a task that can be undertaken only by the military. Second, the terrorist cells and facilities under their use in various provinces have to be destroyed. The task is the responsibility of the civilian intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Unless terrorist networks in both the tribal and settled districts are taken care of, the government cannot afford to relax.