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 Grief and fury as Pakistan mourns11-12-2009 Pakistan last Saturday (5) was mourning those killed near the country’s military headquarters in an attack that raised serious questions over how militants penetrated the security of the regional nuclear power. The country has been battling Taliban insurgents who have responded to army offensives with bombings that have killed hundreds since October. In addition, it faces US pressure to root out militants who cross the border to fight Western troops in Afghanistan.
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside a mosque and two other militants opened fire on worshippers in the garrison town of Rawalpindi last Friday, after easily entering what should be one of the most secure areas in Pakistan.
Three sons of retired colonel Shukran Rafiq’s were in the mosque and one of them was killed. He said his 14-year-old son died for a good cause. “My son was martyred,” he said at the funeral.
Ministers and military leaders, including army chief Ashfaq Kiyani, attended the funerals in Rawalpindi and local television stations showed them paying their respects.
Authorities were not taking any chances at the funerals. Even relatives of fallen officers had to pass through metal detectors and sniffer dogs. There were concrete barriers along a one-km road leading to the funeral ground.
In a reminder of the serious security challenges the army faces, the attack, just 30 minutes from the capital Islamabad, killed at least 40 people, including high-ranking military officials, relatives and children.
Ordinary Pakistanis as well as commentators asked how assailants could enter a strategic military area. The same question was also asked when militants in October raided the army headquarters and took hostages until commandos ended the siege.
“If they can strike in such a secure area then you can expect it anywhere... They are trained terrorists,” said Noor Sher Khan, a university student.
The violence has become so intense that some Pakistanis openly criticise the Taliban, despite the risk of inviting the wrath of the militants who have blown up girls’ schools, and whip and execute people in public who they deem immoral.
“Taliban can’t fool people any more in the name of religion. There has to be an all-out operation against them. If they are spared now then they will never be controlled,” said Mohammad Farooq, a Rawalpindi plumber.
“Our authorities have failed miserably. How can a car loaded with explosives roam all over the city undetected? How can armed people walk around unchecked?,” asked college student Bilal Ahmed in Rawalpindi.
Anger over the Rawalpindi bloodshed was also evident in Peshawar, the capital of the northwest, which has been hit the hardest by bombings.Aside from a loss of life, the violence has also taken a psychological and financial toll on people.
Khushal Gul, a labourer in the city, said he wanted a safer future.
“Absolutely innocent people died in the Rawalpindi blasts. It makes your blood boil. It makes you want to curse these bombers who kill innocent children and widow harmless Muslim women," he said.
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