- Post attack condemnations are futile
The brazen attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi is the latest black mark on the efficiency of Pakistan’s security organisations. But for the gallantry displayed by two police officers who died stopping the terrorists, the three attackers could have played havoc inside the Consulate. The incident challenges the claim of the minister of state for interior, made only a day earlier, that the PTI government had included national security in its 100 days programme, centralised the National Action Plan (NAP)and the National Counter Terror Authority (Nacta) and improved the civil-military coordination.
The incident is the latest in a series of assaults on Chinese nationals, including workers involved in the multi-billion dollar infrastructure project in Pakistan. Beijing on Friday strongly condemned the foiled attack and urged Pakistan to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in the country.
In a gruesome suicide attack in lower Orakzai tribal district on the same day, at least twenty-five people were killed and over thirty injured. This was a sectarian attack on the Shia community. While NGOs, both foreign and local, are barred from entering tribal districts like Orakzai, seminaries spewing sectarian hatred and extremist views are allowed to flourish. Condemnations of such incidents and brave words like “we will crush them” from Imran Khan and Shahryar Afridi sound hollow after what one sees happening again and again in Balochistan, Tribal districts, Karachi and Peshawar. Shireen Mazari forgets that her party is in power for over three months now when she appeals for greater security for tribal areas.
Violent protests by extremists, with the government watching them impassively, are one major disincentive for local and foreign investors. The terrorist attacks like the one on the Chinese Consulate are another. This one was claimed by the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), which implies that separatist outfits have started rearing their heads once again now that military operations have driven most religiously inspired militants away.
Many are expecting that Chinese entrepreneurs would be making big investments in Pakistan. Providing every foreign investor with guards is costlier than improving the intelligence network and making the big security agencies share their intelligence among one another. This has failed to happen on account of mutual rivalries and a trifling game of one-upmanship. The PML-N failed to set the agencies right. Will PTI simply follow suit?
