On Wednesday, at least 23 people were killed and nearly 300 were injured in a suicide bombing in Lahore. According to the NY Times, the attack was “a failed attempt to strike at the nearby provincial headquarters of Pakistan’s powerful intelligence agency.” Dawn reported:
The incident took place at a heavily guarded entry point to the offices of Rescue-15 and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) as well as to the official residences of police officers at the Plaza Cinema Chowk at around 10:10am. The buildings are adjacent to the offices of Lahore’s police chief and are only yards away from the old Freemason’s Hall where the Punjab chief minister has his secretariat. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was at his Defense residence at the time of the explosion.
According to media reports, a group of men shot at police officers before detonating a powerful car bomb, damaging buildings in broad daylight in one of Lahore’s busiest districts. The Times described the scene after the attack in its coverage, “The massive bomb left a crater eight feet deep and 20 feet wide and the blast was heard for miles around. Dozens of vehicles were crumpled like paper and broken glass filled the street. The red brick building of the Rescue 15 ambulance service collapsed after taking the brunt of the blast, and emergency workers struggled for hours to pull the dead and injured from the debris.” The dead included 14 policemen and a colonel belonging to the ISI.
Although an official called yesterday’s bombing a “brazen and well-thought out plan,” it certainly wasn’t the first of its kind in Lahore. In fact, it was the third attack in the city in three months. On March 3, a dozen gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team with rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers ahead of a cricket match in Lahore. Six police guards were killed in the ambush. Later that month on March 30, gunmen attacked the Manawan police academy near Lahore, killing 13 people. All attacks occurred in broad daylight. All were undoubtedly well-coordinated. All appeared to either target Pakistan’s police forces or highlight the vulnerability of Pakistan’s security apparatus. According to BBC News correspondent Shoaib Hassan, “Lahore is facing a sustained campaign of violence unlike any it has seen before.” He added, “Security officials believe the city is under attack because it is seen as a stable home for Pakistan’s Punjab-dominated army.” However, noted the Wall Street Journal, “It was unclear whether the main target of the attack was the police, the ISI or both.”
The government has blamed “Taliban fighters” for yesterday’s bombing, and Interior Minister Rehman Malik was quoted telling reporters, “Enemies of Pakistan who want to destabilize the country are coming here after their defeat in Swat.”
While pointing a finger at the Taliban has been common practice of late, it is still a vague and rather hollow accusation. In order to truly comprehend the threat that faces us, it is important to first demystify the term, “Taliban militants.” Following the Manawan police attack, I noted that the incident signified how many militant organizations are operating in Pakistan’s periphery, and how the line between them has become increasingly blurred. After today’s bombing, the “buzz-term” that was mentioned by several outlets and officials was “The Punjabi Taliban.” In the April issue of the Combating Terrorism Center [CTC] Sentinel, Hassan Abbas wrote,
Punjab, the most populated of Pakistan’s provinces, has largely escaped the bloodshed plaguing the country’s troubled northwest. Yet since 2007, violence has escalated in the province. The bold terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s heartland…show that local logistical support for these attacks is attributable to what is often labeled the ‘Punjabi Taliban’ network. The major factions of this network include operatives from Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, and Jaysh-e-Muhammad – all groups that were previously strictly focused on Kashmir and domestic violence.
Abbas defines the Punjabi Taliban network as “a loose conglomeration of members of banned militant groups of Punjabi origin – sectarian as well as those focused on the conflict in Kashmir – that have developed strong connections with Tehreek-e-Taliban, Afghan Taliban and other militant groups based in FATA and NWFP.” The network’s groups shuttle between the tribal areas and the rest of Pakistan, providing logistical support to militant groups based both in FATA and Afghanistan to conduct operations within Pakistan. Abbas asserted in his analysis, “Given their knowledge about Punjabi cities and security structure, they have proved to be valuable partners for the TTP as it targets cities in Punjab, such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad.”
In order to understand the evolution of these Punjabi groups, their longtime relationship with Pakistan’s state apparatus must be highlighted. In the 1990s, many of these militants directly benefited from state patronage [particularly the ISI], and “were professionally trained in asymmetrical warfare, guerrilla tactics and sabotage,” to fight as proxies in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Although it is unclear how long the state’s relationship with these groups lasted, some speculate if they still enjoy some form of support from retired members of the military or intelligence.
Moreover, despite their current alliance with Al Qaeda and the Afghan and Pashtun Taliban, several groups under the Punjabi Taliban’s umbrella have also been highly sectarian in nature. The Sunni-Deobandi essence of these organizations, particularly the Lashkar-e-Jhanghvi (LeJ) and the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), adds further dimension to this conflict.
The purpose of this analysis was to demystify the term, “Taliban,” a term we throw around too often without truly understanding its meaning. I also wanted to highlight the rising threat of the militant network in Punjab, and how their alliance with the Pashtun and Afghan Taliban makes their mutual impact all the more dangerous. In order to counter these groups, therefore, Pakistan must not only crack down on these groups but also exploit their divisions to weaken their network and influence. As for us, it’s important to think past the abstract and comprehend that militancy is not only rooted in the tribal areas. The Punjabi Taliban were created by the state itself. And it seems those chickens have come home to roost.
Very Malcolm X-esque;).
I agree with you though but I don’t think it’s that much of a problem in Southern Punjab. Recently, there was a whole series of articles by the Dawn on why people in Southern Punjab are not really going the militancy way.
I really don’t think the layperson is with the Taliban and especially after they’ve been under their rule.
Yeah,
I agree, but I wasn’t really speaking to their influence in Punjab – more their presence and evolution. I did read those Dawn pieces though, really good stuff!
Kalsoom- Nice piece. I agree, the term does have many implications, and leaves things blurry. It is usually in a states interest to make issues and enemies as vague as possible, and the state is definitely using the Taliban as an umbrella term for all of these groups and their peripheral allies. The media can also be faulted for that.
Before I go on I will mention that at the time you wrote this post the Taliban probably hadn’t claimed responsibility. The first thing I saw this morning was that “Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for bombing.” A deputy of Baitullah Mehsud, Hakimullah mehsud claimed responsibility that this act was done out of revenge NOT for Waziristan operations, but for the actions taken in Swat. And these were planned day one of the Swat operation. How much of this is true we can only speculate about(referring to the time of planning them etc.) It was done out of their “love” for the people of Swat.
In any case he goes on to stress his love for the people of Pakistan and urges us to evacuate the cities of rawalpindi, multan, islamabad and lahore because they have planned attacks on government targets that will be hit “like never before.”
What is interesting about this is that they are kind of giving it to the government at the same time. The rhetoric they are using is similar to how the government has encouraged people to leave taliban-held areas, because they care for them but want to take out the Taliban. This is where they differ from al-Qaeda and it seems are trying to separate themselves from your typical al-Qaeda style bombing. Al-Qaeda defends the loss of civilian lives, whereas the Taliban is telling us that they “care for us” and are only trying to attack the government/military. Should be taken with a grain of salt.
But as far as your post still applying to this is that the divisions (sectarian or goal oriented) between all these punjabi lashkars and the taliban needs to be exploited. Even if the taliban claims responsibility for this, it is entirely plausible that they received help from these lashkars. Whether it is manpower, logistics or weaponry they may have gotten help. Unless this nexus is understood, identified and investigated AS a nexus, then culling their effectiveness will be impossible.
One thing is for sure, I think we can expect more attacks in the coming days. If the Taliban in Swat is defeated (in the most primitive sense of the word), we will see more of these attacks. These kinds of attacks by Taliban can be seen as acts of desperation because they are generally insurgents who fight guerilla warfare, not insurgency in the al-qaeda sense of the word. Since they are on the losing end of the guerilla war they will take to these kinds of attacks on soft targets to show that they are still around and cannot be defeated through military means.
Thanks Shaheryar-
I just woke up and saw the development. For everyone else, here’s the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8071307.stm
I agree the rhetoric is really interesting and sort of reverses what the government has been saying in order to villify them (the govt in term has been villifying the Taliban in their statements, no surprises there).
In terms of whether this analysis still applies, it certainly does, particularly because I pointed out the loose relationship between the Pashtun and Punjabi Taliban – i.e. they can use groups with logistical support in the province to carry out attacks that have been labeled “brazen” and “well-coordinated.” Moreover, the Punjabi Taliban are said to be more educated, better trained, and more tech savvy than their counterparts in the northwest – making them all the more dangerous.
Additionally. According to the Daily Times the attackers parked their car in between the ISI and the Rescue 15 before starting the attack. There were people around and the attackers told the civilians to take cover and as they did that they continued their operation. If true, interesting.
That is interesting. Read a story yesterday about a bombing in Afghanistan on a U.S. convoy. Reporters got details from the scene because a guy said the bomber looked at him and told him to get away from the area before he blew himself up.
I m not even sure if I could offer condolences, it would not even matter for the families who have to live with this grief for the rest of their lives, it would not help all those families who are currently praying to god for the safety and recovery of the injured people. I have been reading your blog for some time now, yet commenting for the first time. I understand that my comment would start the standard India Pakistan hate discussion. But the bottom-line is that whoever started this tacit support for out-of-state actors by the state agencies, has led to the entire sub continent being held hostage to fear for times to come.
People who got killed or maimed in Lahore yesterday were all family men, and I feel bad for the families who would have been waiting for their kin to return in the evening. It is the irony of our countries that our leaders and decision makers are all short-sighted – I look only at the short term when I try preaching my religion as the basis of my existence. Whatever be the reason for this madness, I m sure no religion (neither Hinduism nor Islam nor any other religion) can allow the kids of these people become “yateem”. And it is the same story across the sub continent- in India, in Pakistan. And this needs to stop!!!
Zeus,
Thanks for commenting! I have to agree with you – the ISI in their support for these groups in the 90s (and some say later) have really unleashed a monster on the state, as well as the rest of the region.
If there are ex-generals or retired officers who still support these groups, then both the military and ISI need to further break from them. The best way to counter this network’s influence is, as I mentioned earlier, to pinpoint their cracks and exploit them. Their support must be marginalized, and the govt needs to crack down. It’s amazing to me that post-Mumbai attacks – who have we put on trial? It’s good that there is intel sharing going on with India, but what kind of justice is being provided? And in terms of Lahore yest, what justice can we provide the families of these victims?
By the way, NWFP government has received reports that Fazlullah is dead says provincial Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain. He told the media that several key militant commanders deaths have been confirmed reported the daily times. Maulana Fazlullah’s death has not yet been confirmed.
Kalsoom- good post. All very true. This is the first time I am commenting. As someone who has spent alot of time in Iraq after the war and who travels to Pakistan frequently, I have to keep coming back to something we’ve all heard before but I fear our leaders may have lost sight of in the last few months. Few insurgencies, even the Tamils when history finally judges them, are ever defeated by military means alone. I do think that the GOP needed to assert itself in Swat against the Taliban, but the aftermath of conflict is in my mind as important, if not more important when it comes to winning the long war. Unfortunately, from what I have read, US and Pakistani leaders dont seem to be displaying the same sense of urgency about the civilian cost of the operation in Swat as they did when the Taliban were making headlines for being 60 miles from Islamabad. This is short-sighted and will come back to haunt us, particularly with a group like the Taliban, which grew as a movement out of the destitution and hopelessness of the Afghan refugee camps. These are the people that matter in the end- the civilians who want a normal, stable life for their families and without whom an insurgency cannot survive. There is a reason why once upon a time the Taliban were able to control almost all of Afghanistan despite their fascist ideology- because they brought order and stability to daily lives after years of war and corruption. I do have confidence that in a fight, the Pakistani army, well trained and professional, will make quick work of the Taliban. The problem for me is I have less confidence that the Pakistani govt can OUT-GOVERN the Taliban, and provide the basic services that the people of Swat require to live their lives. It’s got to be about more than just clearing Swat of Taliban and the problem will go away. It has to be about beginning to provide the kind of rebuilding and continued governance that will keep Swat free.
Thanks for commenting Cameron! Hope you continue to do so 🙂
I completely agree with you – and that’s the difference between the government/military undertaking a counterterrorism versus a counterinsurgency operation. We have to ask ourselves WHY after the military clears an area that the Taliban has been allowed to come back or pop up somewhere else – and it’s precisely for the reason you mentioned above – they’re clearing but not holding – they aren’t providing services in the vacuum they leave behind. The police also needs to come in more.
I’m not sure what compensation civilians are being given, probably not much. The families of police officials killed are receiving 3 million rs. each. That’s what the Punjab chief ministers SAYS.
Mullah Fazlullah’s death not confirmed but his radio has been jammed: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/06-zardari-condemns-lahore-bombing-orders-inquiry-rs-05
K, Its been a hectic and horrific time for Pakistan and just as I logged in to check your views on the blast yesterday, I found another blast story from Peshawar this time: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8072315.stm
Insurgents as per some comments here want to only harm the Pakistani establishment! They kills individual officers and destroy families and hopes of it and they want to win the hearts of the people? One more example that these people dont think with their brains!
Balaji,
I saw that when I woke up this morning. It’s so awful 😦 And it seems from Hakimullah Mehsud’s statement today, that these attacks will continue. So expect more to come unfortunately.
Its now a fact that the militants, at least that’s what i prefer to call them have indeed infiltrated our major city centers. Both Lahore and Karachi are constantly under threat, Lahore more because of its dispersed hotels and rest houses which offer easy hideouts to anyone. However we all need to realize that this is not going to stop as this is now a full scale war, as the militants cannot fight the army they will take the war to our streets in order to change public opinion and force us into withdrawing the army. This must not be done as the fight to the end must happen. There is no way we can let several thousand men hold a nation of millions hostage.
Although it is sad and horrific, we must go on we must persevere in our fight.
[…] ourselves from these blasts given the inefficiency with which our police force operates. As Kulsoom pointed out in her post following the Lahore blast, it was third time in three months that Lahore was hit which goes to show that terrorists continue […]
[…] for excellent analysis of this incident which cannot be found in our morally corrupt newspapers are Chup and Mosharraf Zaidi’s blog. Share/SaveMost Commented PostsFebruary 26, 2008 — Geert Wilder […]
Kalsoom,
Bottom line: a good militant/taliban is an oxymoron. I hope no one misconstrues my comment as any kind of indictment of Pakistanis but like I once mailed to Mr.Kamran Shafi on this very issue, breeding a maneater in ur house to attack ur neighbour cannot be anything other than myopic.
Let’s assume these terrorists who were nurtured to help ‘solve’ the Kashmir issue managed to do so, what next? Can the state mothball them? How will the state absorb into the mainstream people who are proficient in only one thing- killing? Did the state think it could pay a retirement pension to these blood thirsty youngsters and expect them to quietly sit at home like septuagenarians now that their job was over?
Terror as a state policy is a huge risk & it is so tragic that innocent Pakistanis are dying for a state decision which they never took & surely may not even have approved of.
[…] According to police officials, the violence was incited by members of the Sipah-e-Sahba Pakistan, a militant Sunni sectarian group founded in the 1980s by a cleric who wanted Pakistan to be officially declared as a Sunni Islamist state. The group is said to have strongholds in southern districts of Punjab, particularly Jhang. Moreover, noted the CS Monitor, the SSP “was originally an anti-Shiite organization and was funded in the past by Pakistan’s intelligence services to wage war in Kashmir,” [also see related CHUP post on the Punjabi Taliban]. […]