Pakistan: Standing up to Islamofascism
Pakistan seems to be standing up for itself in the release of a high-ranking militant suspect. Threats from the Taliban’s commander against Pakistan’s security proved futile with the country’s refusal to release the suspect to the group. Twenty-one people were killed when militants and military forces battled while a suicide bomber injured four. According to witnesses, the suicide bomber was part of a sectarian rivalry.
The bomber was hiding on the side of a road in Hangu near a truck carrying Shiite Muslims. He came forward chanting “God is great!” before detonating the explosives. The driver of the truck, however, escaped without injury. The bomber wasn’t as fortunate. His body was found on the road, though most of the explosives were still intact.
The insurgents also seem to be getting smarter. They lured a convoy into a trap while five men acted as guides. When five other local men were sent to talk to them, they also disappeared. Sixteen troops, including a top commander, as well as five militants and one of their commanders were killed in a clash in the Hangu district. Escaping imminent death, one of the troops hid in a ravine.
In recent months, security in Pakistan has focused on the threat the Taliban poses against their country. This has also led to the arrest of one of a top aide to Pakistani Taliban. In return, this has led to Taliban fighters kidnapping security forces. This also resulted in a siege of a police station in which 19 employees became hostages. Still, Pakistan continued to stand their ground and refuse to release the Taliban’s top aide, claiming “no terrorist will be released, whatever the price we have to pay”.
A military operation in Hangu was dismissed with the promise that Pakistan would hunt down and find those responsible for the convoy attack. This clash happened while the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, was visiting the area on a one-day unannounced trip. Mullen met with several officials to discuss security problems stating that Pakistan is becoming more of a breeding-ground for Taliban militants because there is not enough pressure being applied to force them out.
Another area of focus during the visit was neighboring Afghanistan. Rehman Malik, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry Chief, stated “To save Afghanistan is to save Pakistan and to save Pakistan is to save the world”. He also remarked that in order to secure their country, their western border needed to be more secure.
