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| COVER STORY |
By Momin Bullo The fresh wave of successive suicide attacks mainly targeting at security agency personnels and VVIP zones, have virtually disturbed the overall peace and tranquil atmosphere of the country on one hand and the other increased in the sense of insecurity among the foreign investors busy at work on different development projects going on in the nook and the corner of the country. During the late this month's spate of terrorism four security personnel were killed & 23 were injured in Mirali, North Waziristan Agency. The incident took place on 22 January. It all happened when a suicide bomber rammed his heavily explosive ladden car into military convoy.
The second attack of more or the less identical nature took place in Islamabad's Marriot Hotel just three days afterwards. The suicide bomber wearing explosive material tried to gate crash into Marriot Hotel however, the security staffers succeeded in halting him there and then and as a consequence he blew him self up. Next came the Islamabad International Airport suicide bombing attempt which was again thwarted by the alertness of the Airport security staffers. IIA incident took place the very next day of the Marriot Hotel attack. The fourth incident which shook Peshawar on the eve of Muharram mourning in which CCPO was killed besides the loss of other valuable lives. Commentators, coloumnists, critics, writers, intellectuals etc citing the said examples of recent spate of suicide attacks have usually condemned the government's alleged failure to contain the disturbance which had shattered our national peace. Unfortunately none of them have ever bothered to appreciate its land mark achievements towards arresting or eliminating top Al-Qaeda master minds whose main aim was to destablise Pakistan to seek their nefarious goals. A lengthy list of achievements of our even vigilant security personnel is readily available in internet archives or in the files of print media. General Pervaiz Musharraf, the brave soldier and equally a capable ruler has proved his stead fastness at many international forums for fighting against the war lords till the end come what may. In the mean time it was also highlighted in the national press that squad of as many as 2000 suicide bombers has been trained on the soil of Afghanistan to operate across the border. Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan who was until recently hostile against Pakistan and didn't spare a moment to defened him in the context of disharmony in Afghanistan. Ironically, remained tightlipped on the issue.
Hamid Karzai who is blamed as puppet of US led government has time and again raised figures pointing towards Pakistan for being sole cause of disturbance in his country. It is high time for the US or its main allies in the 'war against terror' to remind him politically that now the new nursing of 2000 suicide bombers which produced his country is not the out come of Pakistan or any other force but his own sheer ignorance and inefficiency. He also may be twisted and reminded with best possible manner that it was not Pakistan which allegedly destablised his government but it has been proved inverse that the its Afghan soil is being used against Pakistan. Besides Afghanistan issue, Pakistan is associated with many international intrigues and conspiracies, despite its commendable performance as a forefront partner of the “War against Terror” campaign launched by the Unites States of America in 2001. Unfortunately until the recent past even US officials on Pakistan's role towards the elimination of terrorism has again not been a soothing one. But the disclosure of US Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher on January 13 had successfully dispelled the past impressions created for Pakistan alone. Mr. Boucher who was visiting Pakistan in his Press Conference in Islamabad remarked that “the Pakistan & US had been unsuccessful in eliminating terrorists and both needed to do more.” Until this day for the failures to gain substantial results from the ongoing war since past six years, only Pakistan was being targeted or was being blamed. But thanks to brave Boucher who went on admitting publicly that “Pakistan has not succeeded despite signing an agreement with the tribal leaders in the North Waziristan as terrorists are still in going into Afghanistan in the same breath he also admitted that the US didn't succeed in Afghanistan to curb violence and extremists and they both need to harness more efforts to make the region peacefull and safe.” Pakistan, an important US ally in the war on terrorism, has been trying to clear foreign militants out of North and South Waziristan & pacify their Pakistani allies. Despite the efforts put in by the incumbent government to eliminate terrorism, it has itself on one hand become a worst hit of the phenomenon and on the other hand the recent news regarding anti-Pakistan legislation in the US House of Representatives on the lines of one time notorious Pressler amendment, has seriously affected the feelings of the nation. The new legislation is aimed at to stop Pakistan's defence budget allegedly due to its failure to get results. The answer lies in Mr. Boucher's Islamabad Press Conference.
By Our Staff Reporter On Jan. 26, a suicide bomber attacked a five-star hotel in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, killing two persons including himself and injured seven others. Pakistani acting president condemns suicide attack at Islamabad Airport Islamabad, Pakistan's acting President Mr. Muhammadmian Soomro strongly condemned the suicide attack in the parking area of the Islamabad international airport and termed it a terrorist act. An official news agency quoted him as saying that the government was determined to root out terrorism and added it was condemnable as innocent people became the victims of the attack. Peshawar blast kills 16 A suspected suicide bomb attack near a mosque in Peshawar killed at least 16 people on Saturday, most of them police officers, a senior provincial government official said. City administrator Ghulam Ali said 11 people were killed and 20 wounded in the blast near the city's largest mosque. Another official, North West Frontier Province Chief Minister Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani, said he feared the death toll would rise. "We have collected the remains of what appears to be a suicide bomber," deputy superintendent Ghulam Mohammad told Reuters. It was not clear who was behind the explosion, but Pakistan has been braced for a fresh outburst of sectarian violence during the Islamic month of Moharram, when the country's Shi'ite minority mourns the death of one of their sect's heroes. While the evening blast occurred just metres away from Qasim Ali Khan mosque, the largest Sunni mosque in the city, it was also close to a Shi'ite community centre, which had just been visited by the police caught in the explosion. "When they went out there was an explosion. It terrified us, the noise was deafening," Sayed Qainul Hassan, the head of the community centre, told Reuters. The Peshawar blast came a day after one in the capital Islamabad. A suicide bomber killed himself and a security guard when he was stopped at the side entrance of Islamabad's Marriott hotel, which is frequented by foreign diplomats and businessmen. A police officer said up to 10 of the dead in the Peshawar attack were police, including two senior officers. Muhammad Ali Durrani reacts Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani reacting on the incident said government had the knowledge of possible terrorist attacks in Islamabad therefore high security alerts was maintained in the metropolis to bring the damage to minimum level. He said this while addressing Lahore Press Club program "Meet the Press" and answering to the questions here on the same day. Information minister held government believes in the supremacy of law and constitution. This is the first government which has acknowledged independence of the judiciary and accepted its verdicts. Opposition should also respect constitution and judiciary. Fair and transparent elections are more needed by us than opposition. He went on to say that opposition demands in regard to presidential elections are illegal and ultra constitutional. President Musharraf is the most popular leader of the country and the incumbent government has shown better performance than any other government, he added. " We will achieve better results on these basis, he remarked. Opposition should accept that change would not come through deal, conspiracies and artificial movements, he underlined. Ballot box is the only mean to bring change, he maintained. Opposition has no agenda and its all claims are unconstitutional and illegal. Corruption is their asset while people and performance are our assets. He underscored that resolution of Palestine issue is imperative for establishment of peace in the world. Real peace can not be guaranteed without settlement of this issue, he added. Terrorism, extremism and sectarianism in Pakistan are linked to Palestine. These scourges are now hitting East and West both. Muslim Ummah should forge consensus for the resolution of problems facing them as the policy of confrontation will further deteriorate the situation. Responding to a question, he said if independent state of Palestine is established under King Abdullah formula -2002 then there will be no hesitation in recognizing Israel. To another question, he said general Musharraf had struck no deal with Nawaz Sharif. Under the pressure of some friendly countries, punishment of Nawaz Sharif was converted and he was exiled. He had left for Jeddah on his free will. Now he has reached London. To another question, he said Pakistan stance on Kashmir is that it should be resolved as per aspirations of Kashmiris. War is no option for settlement of problems. The issues should be resolved through talks. Pakistan has taken all the decisions in national interests. Playing the role of front line state in war on terror is also in the interest of the country as we want to save people of our country from Dargai like incidents. To a question on stoppage of US defence assistance to Pakistan, he said this move will not affect our defence requirements as Pakistan has already made arrangements to meet its defence requirements for the
By Our Staff Reporter A suicide bomber killed a security guard and himself when he set off explosives strapped to his body outside the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital, on January 26. The powerful blast, which could be heard across the city, occurred when the guard prevented the attacker from entering the heavily-protected five-star hotel. "The attacker tried to enter the hotel and was stopped by the security guard and there was a scuffle and the blast occurred." Sources added: "The attacker's body was totally mutilated. His limbs were scattered around the area."
Police officers cordoned off the site and placed a white cloth over the attacker's body after the blast, which happened in a high-security zone of Islamabad near government offices. The bomber's head was lying at the scene and his mangled, scorched body was thrown over a crash barrier outside the hotel's nightclub and laundry room, opposite the guest car park. Panicked guests poured out of the hotel after the explosion before being escorted to other areas. "I was taking lunch at the Royal Elephant Thai restaurant inside the Marriott when the entire restaurant was shaken by a bang," hotel guest Mohammed Aamir told. "It literally shook us out of our seats. It was a huge bang. We rushed outside and there was chaos."
A senior security official also confirmed it was a suicide bombing. "It is a suicide attack, the man approached the entrance and he was apparently stopped by the guard when the explosion occurred. Four injured people were treated at the city's Poly Clinic hospital, a doctor said. The outer wall of the hotel opposite the guest parking lot was blackened while several cars were also damaged with their windscreens and rear windows broken. The Marriott's management was not immediately available for comment. An unexplained explosion outside the hotel's lobby in October 2004 injured a US diplomat. Security is extremely heavy at the Marriott with all vehicles and guests subjected to rigorous checks. The hotel was due to host a function later in the day marking the 58th Republic Day of Pakistan's regional rival India.
'Huge bang' Witnesses say the bomber tried to enter the hotel through a back door that is used by staff. He was stopped by the security guard and detonated his explosives after a scuffle. Security Some observers say the bomber may have been trying to target a bar in the hotel's basement where Westerners and other foreigners gather. But they point out that if he had wanted to inflict maximum damage he would have entered by the front door, although it is much more heavily guarded. Security at the Marriott is tight, with guests and vehicles subjected to checks. An explosion at the hotel in October 2004 injured five people. The US embassy warned its staff to stay away from the Marriott after the blast. Musharraf, Shaukat condemn Islamabad five star hotel bomb blast President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz strongly condemned the bomb blast at a local five star hotel on Friday afternoon in which 2 people were killed and 5 injured. In their separate messages both President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz condemning the blast express their heart felt sympathies with the families of the victim and vowed that all out efforts would be made to stamp out terrorism and we would not be cowed down by such acts Sources reveal that President Musharraf was informed by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and other security officials regarding the suicide bomb attack at a local five star hotel. President strongly condemned the attack underlining that perpetrators will be taken to task. President has issued orders for immediate investigations into the blast underlining that Pakistan in strong words condemns all forms of terrorism and extremism. Suicide blast at Islamabad airport, official seriously wounded RAWALPINDI: A suicide-attacker detonated a bomb in a parking area at the international airport that serves Pakistan's capital late Tuesday, wounding at least two police and killing himself, officials said. A security official stopped the bomber, who was on foot, said Mohammed Farooq, a police official at the central control room in Rawalpindi where the airport is located. After a brief exchange of fire, the attacker detonated the bomb, he said. Interior Minister, Aftab Khan Sherpao, confirmed that it was a suicide-bombing. Farooq said two police officers were wounded, one seriously. Another police official, Mohammed Afzal, said the blast damaged several cars and hurt some people. Police cordoned off the area, and the injured were being transported to a hospital, he said. Mohammed Sarib, who was at the airport to collect someone arriving on a flight, said he saw a man exchanging fire with security officials. "That man later blew himself up,'' he told. A security official said on condition of anonymity that airport security officials arrested a man who was trying to flee the scene. It was unclear whether the detained man was a suspected accomplice of the suicide-attacker. The bombing follows a series of suicide-attacks targeting security forces in northwestern Pakistan, where pro-Taliban militants are active, and a January 26 blast at Islamabad's Marriott Hotel that killed a security guard and wounded seven others. Authorities have yet to identify the Marriott Hotel attacker, but suspect the bombings could be in retaliation to a recent Pakistani army airstrike on an suspected al-Qaida hideout near the Afghan border that a prominent Pakistani militant vowed to avenge.
By B. Raman Ten persons were killed and 150 others injured on August 8, 2003, following an explosion at the Marriott Hotel of Jakarta. After the blast, Matori Abdul Djalil, the then Indonesian Defence Minister, told the media that the people behind the blast had trained with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Reacting to his allegation, a spokesman of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry in Islamabad, told pressmen as follows: "Pakistan has taken a series of strong and effective measures against Al Qaeda.If the Indonesian Government had a lead on the training of the terrorists, they should share it with us so that we could further intensify our action. Indonesia has not shared its suspicions about terrorism training in Pakistan and its alleged link to Tuesday's bombing. Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack at Jakarta's Marriott Hotel. This was a gruesome attack killing innocent civilians."
2. Seven persons, including two Italians and an American diplomat, were injured in an explosion at the Marriott Hotel of Islamabad on the night of October 28, 2004, when 11 members of the US Embassy were having their dinner in a restaurant. The explosion took place in the lobby. The Pakistani authorities strongly denied that this was an act of terrorism and contended that the explosion was caused by an electrical short-circuit. This was denied by many hotel guests who insisted that the explosion was caused by a bomb. While no further investigation was made by the Pakistani authorities, American security officials made their own enquiries and ruled out a short circuit. They suspected that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in the lobby of the hotel. The US Embassy issued an advisory making the hotel out of bounds for its employees posted in Islamabad. 3. Two persons were killed in the parking area of the same hotel at 2-30 PM on January 26, 2007, when a suspected suicide bomber, who was stopped for questioning by a security guard, blew himself up. The security guard was also killed. The Pakistani authorities have admitted that this was an act of suicide terrorism. The incident took place four hours before a reception hosted by the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to celebrate the Indian Republic Day. The High Commissioner went ahead with his reception despite the blast. 4. What was the intended target of the alleged suicide bomber---- the Indian reception or the hotel? The "News", a Pakistani daily, has quoted a private security agency official as saying as follows: “Probably, the suicide bomber was planning to hit the (Indian) reception scheduled to be held in 'Lower Marquee' at 6.30pm.” No clear evidence is as yet available, but one has to also take note of the fact that a hotel of this chain has come under attack for the third time by pro-Al Qaeda. The Jakarta and Islamabad Marriott Hotels are owned by locals, but they form part of an international franchise chain with headquarters in the US. John Willard "Bill" Marriott, Jr. is the Chairman and CEO of Marriott International. He is believed to be close to President George Bush and his wife. He serves as the Chairman of the President's Export Council, a group that advises the President on matters relating to export trade, and serves as the Chairman of the Leadership Council of the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries. 5. It is said that since the Jakarta blast hotels of this chain take great care not to rub Muslims or jihadis on the wrong side and do not allow jihadi terrorism-related conferences and seminars to be held in their premises. (The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai.)
By Our Staff Reporter In the second such incident within the past week, terror has shattered quiet of our city bringing death in its wake. According to news sources, a suspected suicide car bomber blew himself up after opening fire at Pakistan's Islamabad International airport, killing himself and injuring others, security officials said. Eye witness accounts state that two men were seen going towards the V.I.P. Lounge of the airport, and started shooting at security officials when they were asked to stop. The dead include the bomber himself and two security officials but the number of injured is not yet confirmed. His accomplice has been arrested and is in custody. Is this what our city has been reduced to? This will be our claim to fame; the capital of a Muslim state identified by the blood of innocents spilled by their own brethren in the name of faith or religion?
Police officials said the attacker arrived at the airport close to 8:50pm in a taxi with two other people and was stopped for checking by Airport Security Force officials who asked for his identification. The man opened fire at the guards and then ran towards the VIP lounge of the airport. The security officials returned fire, inflicting multiple bullet injuries. Airport security official Akram Khan told AFP that the attacker was hit in the face and the upper part of his body. At this point, there was an explosion that killed the bomber and injured 10 people, mostly security men. This was the fifth suicide attack hitting security officials in the last 15 days Syed Murrawat Ali Shah, Rawalpindi's deputy inspector general, later told reporters that the attacker had died when a grenade he had attempted to throw at security guards landed near his feet and exploded. He said only one policeman and two airport security guards were injured. Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said that the attack could have been far worse. “The suicide belt he was wearing did not explode, it was still intact,” he said. “Once again the alertness of the security forces have foiled a terrorist attack,” he added.
The top half of the attacker's body, with its face masked by a scarf, was lying around 10 metres from the outer gate of the floodlit car park. His legs were blown to pieces by the blast, witnesses said. Police sources said that the two men who had arrived at the airport with the attacker were later arrested and shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. The airport was sealed, with no one being allowed in or out, and roads leading to the airport were closed. The schedule of flights was disturbed. All passengers inside the airport were searched and the area cordoned off. The military later took control of the airport. Warning of 10 terrorist plots: The intelligence agencies have unearthed at least 10 terrorist plots to attack hotels and buildings commonly used by VIPs, in revenge for military operations in South Waziristan, Daily Times has learnt. Of the 10 suicide missions, two have been assigned to female bombers, who would target gatherings of VIPs, sources said, citing intelligence reports submitted to the Interior Ministry.
The reports say that the targets are mostly high-ranking officials of law-enforcement agencies. They say that a few Uzbeks are also part of the suicide missions. In light of these reports, the National Crises Management Cell of the Interior Ministry has written to the home secretaries and police chiefs of the four provinces, the Northern Areas, Azad Kashmir and the federal capital to make extra security arrangements around sensitive places and government VIPs in their areas. According to another report submitted to the Interior Ministry, the district police officer of Attock reported receiving an anonymous call from Peshawar that some militants carrying explosive material had moved to Rawalpindi. Islamabad airport closed after blast The Islamabad international airport was closed for a night after shooting and explosion at its VIP parking entrance.. No flights taking off or landing were allowed for the moment at the airport of the Pakistani capital. The attacker came to the airport gate in a rent car but walked into the airport. The taxi driver was later detained by police for interrogation. The roads to the Islamabad airport were blocked and the armymen reached the airport. This was the sixth suicide attack in Pakistan and the second in Islamabad in 10 days. Investigators attempt to identify Islamabad airport attack suspect Pakistani investigators tried to establish the identity of a suspected Islamist militant killed in a blast at Islamabad airport and questioned a man believed to be an accomplice. The incident followed a wave of attacks including a January 26 suicide bombing at a top Islamabad hotel and raised fears that Pakistan's war against Islamist militants in remote mountains on the Afghan border has spread to the capital. "The attack appears to have links to Waziristan," said a top government security official who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the case. The Waziristan region on the Afghan border is a hotbed of Islamist militancy where many Al Qaida and Taliban members took refuge after US-led forces drove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan. Police were also questioning several people in connection with a separate grenade attack on a US aid group in the northwest region in which two local employees were wounded, officials said. Hundreds of members of the security forces and militants have been killed in clashes but Islamabad - a small, leafy capital nestled against the foothills of the Himalayan mountains - has been largely free of militant violence in recent years. The man killed, who was bearded and appeared to be in his twenties, opened fire at security staff after they stopped a car he was in and tried to search him as he was attempting to get into the airport. The man, armed with two pistols, was killed when one of three grenades he was carrying went off in the airport car park. |
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