Daily Times

Yet another terror attack struck the capital of Balochistan on Sunday afternoon. At least nine people lost their lives while 30 received injuries in a suicide attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church.

Last year, Easter celebrations had been marred by a deadly attack at Lahore’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park. The Christian community has been targeted yet again and just a few days ahead of

Christmas Day.

That the terrorists have retained the ability to carry out attacks on ‘soft targets’ despite the ongoing military operation means there are flaws in the security policy that have been left unfixed. Faith-based killings would have lessened, if not completely stopped, had the government implemented the National Action Plan (NAP) in true letter and spirit. The government has clearly failed in

this regard.

Several terrorist attacks have taken place in both Quetta and Peshawar in the last few months, raising questions on the effectiveness of our intelligence and investigation agencies. The country’s leadership has been claiming that militants are on the run thanks to the anti-terror operation, but it is unclear as to how they are still able to carry out such attacks if their networks have been

dismantled.

COAS Qamar Bajwa stated in the aftermath of the blast that the attack in Quetta was an attempt to create ‘religious cleavage’ in the country. However, it needs to be realised by all stakeholders that for countering such attempts, it is imperative to disown the mindset that preaches hate against minorities. The groups that incite violence against minority communities are unfortunately not only given space by the government but seem to enjoy greater power than the state institutions (as was seen at Faizabad last month). What else can be expected when those baying for the blood of minorities are patronised and ‘mainstreamed’? To eradicate terror and extremism in all its forms, militant outfits of all hues should be dismantled.

It was decided by the country’s leadership after APS attack that the system of intelligence cooperation will be made more effective. Three years on, Pakistan faces the same dilemma. A lack of coordination among the agencies and between agencies and the governments is giving consistent opportunities to the militants.

It is about time serious steps are taken for improving intelligence coordination.  *

Published in Daily Times, December 18^th 2017.