Mayhem in capital

2026-02-07 - 23:46

AFTER coordinated attacks in Balochistan, foreign sponsored terrorists struck a mosque in the federal capital killing 32 worshippers and injuring 170 others, sending shock-waves across the country and prompting calls for a decisive action against enemies of humanity. A suicide bomber detonated himself at the entrance of Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in Tarlai area of Islamabad during Friday prayers. Preliminary security reports indicate alert guards intercepted the attackers at the gate and the bomber triggered his vest at the threshold, which prevented higher casualties. The tragedy has attracted not only nation-wide but also global condemnation as messages of expression of solidarity with Pakistan are pouring in from different capitals. The attack on people offering prayers is yet another confirmation that terrorists and their handlers have no religion and are hard core criminals engaged in killing innocent people. No group has accepted responsibility for the carnage but the relevant authorities say the attacker has been identified as a resident of Peshawar who frequently travelled to Afghanistan where he received training of weapons and suicide bombing. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif also saw footprints of India and Afghanistan behind the dastardly attack, adding after getting humiliating defeat in the war last year, the enemy was waging war through proxies. The nefarious designs of the enemy can be judged by the fact that the capital was hit at a time when the Uzbek President was in Islamabad. The apparent motive was to create a sense of insecurity and instability in the country when high level visits were taking place and agreements signed to forge cooperation in various sectors. The enemy wants to scuttle the march of people of Pakistan on the road to progress and prosperity and in this backdrop there is all the more reason for the nation to get united in foiling conspiracies of the enemies and their local agents. There are understandable protests and demonstrations against killing of innocent people but it would be wrong to link the tragedy to lack of security or vigilance. It is known to everyone in the country that militants and their handlers are hitting different targets including markets, development projects, infrastructure facilities, state symbols, premises of security institutions and trains/buses. They also chose sectarian targets in a bid to sow seeds of hatred among different sects with the ultimate objective of undermining national unity. We hope attackers and their backers will face the nemesis as the nation and its leadership are determined to wipe out the threat of terrorism once for all.