Dropping lower with each passing day, the Damoclean sword hanging over all of Pakistan threatens to make the streets run red with innocent blood. On Saturday, a “terrorist” attack claimed nine lives, injuring another 25, as unknown players opened fire on a passenger bus making merry on its way towards Gilgit Baltistan. As of now, no credible information is available on the perpetrators of this cowardly attack and while everyone from the government machinery has rushed forward with emotionally-charged condemnations, they do not have much to offer in terms of clarity or hope. Pakistan can no longer sit idle to the deadly uptick in terror activities, which are said to have killed more than 700 people in the first nine months of the year. Heart-wrenching statistics suggest that the casualties of security forces have been the highest in the last eight years. Meanwhile, civilian deaths in militant attacks have well over doubled. The authorities would do well to remember that last time Pakistan had found itself embroiled in such a debilitating situation, Rawalpindi and Islamabad were forced to find spectacular courage of their convictions to roll out a cut-throat, comprehensive offensive in the North to put an end to years of turmoil. It can only be hoped that the state is not willing to let the enemies regain the might of the 2010s when the entire country had become a sinister playground for their nefarious designs. Simply proclaiming that Kabul is quite intent on playing a double game would not do. Instead of preaching to the choir, we would have to launch a vicious crackdown against all handlers and facilitators of these monsters. Over a year after the TTP announced a full-fledged war against Pakistan’s people and made a great spectacle of its agenda to dislodge the government of Pakistan, the state cannot still wait for help to arrive from our western neighbour. Perhaps, concrete actions to reduce the clout being enjoyed by the TTP and establish effective border management might push our estranged cousins to step above their grievances and work towards regional peace. *