The attack on a check post near a police station in Hangu that came just a day after an attack on a CID police station in Peshawar speaks of a well-organised and determined enemy. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that this was done to avenge the killing of five Chechens at the hands of the Frontier Corps in Quetta. It seems the Taliban are trying to take advantage of public outrage against the Chechens’ killing. However, there is no connection between the targeted people in Hangu and those who are responsible for the killings in Quetta. Regardless of this explanation, there has been a predictable series of attacks on various targets across Pakistan after Osama bin Laden’s killing, the most disastrous of which was the successful assault on PNS Mehran airbase in Karachi. Unfortunately, the lessons of May 2 have not been learnt. The level of alertness and security that should have followed the May 2 incident as a matter of course are conspicuous by their absence. For those responsible for protecting the life and property of citizens, it is business as usual. For instance, at the time of the attack on the CID police station in Peshawar, only one guard was present on duty, while the other two had gone to offer prayers. Even if all three guards had been present, it is doubtful if they could have done much to avert the disaster waiting to happen. What could three hapless guards have done to arrest the momentum of an advancing truck laden with 300 kilogrammes of explosives? In Thursday’s attack in Hangu, a car packed with explosives rammed into a check post near a police station, killing 32 people and inflicting heavy damage to nearby police residences and businesses. Again, more than just half-hearted security measures are needed. If we look at the security arrangements of potential targets in the big cities, we see that they are surrounded by concrete barriers, which can help in offsetting the momentum of such attacks, especially if there are layers of such barriers. But there are no such arrangements in smaller cities. Obviously, in asymmetrical warfare, militants look for easier targets to strike first. Then they move on to harder targets, which too have their gradations, like police, paramilitary forces, etc. At a time when there is an open threat of a bigger attack and the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) has decided to revamp the security policy, it should take into account the nature of the threat and take appropriate measures. We cannot have 100 percent foolproof security all over the country, but minimum security arrangements must be made for all the likely vulnerable targets. Al Qaeda and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are meticulously implementing their formal declaration of war against Pakistan through a highly organised and well-planned series of attacks. Pakistan’s security forces have to match their effort and overtake them. Any laxness, lapse, lack of responsibility, mistakes and weaknesses should not be tolerated. This is a life and death struggle for the soul of Pakistan. The security establishment should come out of their stupor and consider themselves in a state of war and act accordingly.*