Terrorism in Pakistan: Difference between revisions

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Terrorism in Pakistan has been prevalent since the 1970s and 1980s following the dismemberment of the nation through violent means (Bangladesh Liberation War). The following years saw the Balochistan movement gaining momentum and though it was suppressed with force, it is believed to have sparked the violence that exists today. Infact by 1987, 90% of all reported terrorist activities worldwide were located in Pakistan ^[1] Part of the reason is due to its status as the fifth most populous country in the world and its proximity to India, another hotbed of terrorist activity and with whom the issue of Kashmir remains unresolved. The different cultures in Pakistan are associated with differing ideologies, further causing regionalism.

Reasons for terrorism

Two of the main reasons believed to be responsible for terrorism in Pakistan are sectarian/religious violence and the mistrust in the Musharraf-Bush coalition in the war on terror. However, other causes like political rivalry and business disputes too take its toll. It is estimated that more than 4,000 people have died in Pakistan in the past 25 years due to sectarian strife. [2]

Religious fundamentalism has also believed to have played some role in contributing to the rise of terrorist activity. The 7 July 2005 London bombings was carried out by people who are believed to have visited a Pakistani madrassa at some time in their life, stroking fears that perhaps certain groups in Pakistan were encouraging violent activity. Pakistan President initially acknowledged that some madrassas were involved in extremism and terrorism. [3]. The government of Pakistan denied such charges, saying that just because someone visits Pakistan once after living and being educated abroad for all their life, does not mean that they were encouraged to perform terrorist acts in Pakistan. The government still acted swiftly, requiring all religious schools to register with the government. Also, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's cooperation with the United States' War on Terrorism has led to several assassination attempts on him by those who seek the destruction of western interests. The president referred to this as terrorism. See also: Pakistani involvement in the War on Terror

Alleged State Terrorism

The Government of Pakistan is accused of having supplied monetary aid to the Taliban and other anti-Soviet groups to fight during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and to many separatist organisations fighting for secession in Kashmir. It has strongly denied the latter; however some statements made by Kashmiri militants showed the involvement of a Pakistani minister in establishing militant training camps.

Terrorist groups

Lashkar-e-Omar

Lashkar-e-Omar (The Army of Omar) is a terrorist organisation which is believed to have its members derived from 3 organisations, Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HuJI), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The main terrorist activities for which it has been accused are:

Attack on a church in Bahawalpur in Punjab on October 28, 2002, resulting in 18 dealths and 9 injuries.
The group, was allegedly involved in the March 17, 2002 grenade attack on a church in the heavily guarded diplomatic enclave in Islamabad in which five persons, including a US diplomat's wife and daughter, were killed and 41 others injured.
LeO was reportedly involved in the suicide bombing outside the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi on May 8, 2002 and the June 14th attack on the US consulate in Karachi, in which 10 persons, including five women, were killed and 51 others injured.

Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan

Previously known as Anjuman Sipah-e-Sahaba (ASS), this group is thought to be behind most of the attacks on Shi'a Islam followers. It came into prominence following the Iranian Revolution in 1980s. Incidents credited to be the handiwork of this group are:

October 7, 2004 bomb blasts in Multan that killed 40 people
September 21, 2004: Suspected SSP members gunned down at least three members of a Shia family in a sectarian attack in Dera Ismail Khan.
March 2, 2004 More than 45 people killed and over 100 wounded in an attack on Shi'a Muslims in Quetta.
It has also been regularly involved in assasinating Iranian diplomats with the most gruesome being the killing of five Iranian Air Force cadets in Rawalpindi in 1997.

Other incidents

June 14, 2002 : A bomb exploded outside American consulate in Karachi, killing 12. The bombing was linked to Al-Qaeda.

Notes

^ . ISBN 0765614979. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Author= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Title= ignored (|title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)

Sources

. ISBN 0140224017. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Author= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Title= ignored (|title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
South Asia Intelligence Review on Lashkar-e-Omar

External links

General overview of Pakistani state terrorism

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-'''Terrorism in Pakistan''' can be attributed to [[Pakistan]]'s status as the [[List of countries by population|fifth most populous country]] in the world, with diverse [[culture]]s, [[language]]s, traditions and customs, and its proximity to [[India]], another hotbed of [[terrorist]] activity with whom the issue of [[Kashmir]] remains unresolved. Although diversity is an asset, friction often arises. Different [[Culture of Pakistan|cultures in Pakistan]] are associated with differing [[ideology|ideologies]], further causing [[regionalism]].
+'''Terrorism in Pakistan''' has been prevalent since the [[1970s]] and [[1980s]] following the dismemberment of the nation through violent means ([[Bangladesh Liberation War]]). The following years saw the [[Balochistan]] movement gaining momentum and though it was suppressed with force, it is believed to have sparked the violence that exists today. Infact by [[1987]], 90% of all reported terrorist activities worldwide were located in Pakistan {{ref|Book}} Part of the reason is due to its status as the [[List of countries by population|fifth most populous country]] in the world and its proximity to [[India]], another hotbed of [[terrorist]] activity and with whom the issue of [[Kashmir]] remains unresolved. The different [[Culture of Pakistan|cultures in Pakistan]] are associated with differing [[ideology|ideologies]], further causing [[regionalism]].
 ==Reasons for terrorism==
 Two of the main reasons believed to be responsible for terrorism in Pakistan are [[Sectarianism|sectarian]]/religious violence and the mistrust in the Musharraf-Bush coalition in the war on terror. However, other causes like political rivalry and business disputes too take its toll. It is estimated that more than 4,000 people have died in Pakistan in the past 25 years due to sectarian strife. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4289740.stm]
-Religious fundamentalism has also believed to have played some role in contributing to the rise of terrorist activity. The [[7 July 2005 London bombings]] was carried out by people who are believed to have visited a Pakistani [[madrassa]] at some time in their life, stroking fears that perhaps certain groups in Pakistan were encouraging violent activity. Pakistan President initially acknowledged that some madrassas were involved in extremism and terrorism. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050719.BLAST19_COPY/BNStory]. The [[Government of Pakistan]] denied such charges, saying that just because someone visits Pakistan once after living and being educated abroad for all their life, does not mean that they were encouraged to perform terrorist acts in Pakistan. <!--Can we have a quote and copyedit for this statement, instead suddenly changing the tone from third person to first person and back.--> The government still acted swiftly, requiring all religious schools to register with the government. Also, [[President of Pakistan|Pakistani President]] [[Pervez Musharraf]]'s cooperation with the [[United States]]' [[War on Terrorism]] has led to several [[Pervez Musharraf#Assassination attempts|assassination attempts]] on him by those who seek the destruction of western interests. The president referred to this as terrorism. ''See also: [[Pervez Musharraf#Partner in the War on Terror|Pakistani involvement in the War on Terror]]''
+Religious fundamentalism has also believed to have played some role in contributing to the rise of terrorist activity. The [[7 July 2005 London bombings]] was carried out by people who are believed to have visited a Pakistani [[madrassa]] at some time in their life, stroking fears that perhaps certain groups in Pakistan were encouraging violent activity. Pakistan President initially acknowledged that some madrassas were involved in extremism and terrorism. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050719.BLAST19_COPY/BNStory]. The government of Pakistan denied such charges, saying that just because someone visits Pakistan once after living and being educated abroad for all their life, does not mean that they were encouraged to perform terrorist acts in Pakistan.  <!--Can we have a quote and copyedit for this statement, instead suddenly changing the tone from third person to first person and back.--> The government still acted swiftly, requiring all religious schools to register with the government. Also, [[President of Pakistan|Pakistani President]] [[Pervez Musharraf]]'s cooperation with the [[United States]]' [[War on Terrorism]] has led to several [[Pervez Musharraf#Assassination attempts|assassination attempts]] on him by those who seek the destruction of western interests. The president referred to this as terrorism. ''See also: [[Pervez Musharraf#Partner in the War on Terror|Pakistani involvement in the War on Terror]]''
+==Alleged [[State Terrorism]]==
-The [[Government of Pakistan]] is accused of having supplied monetary aid to the [[Taliban]] and other anti-Soviet groups to fight during the [[Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan]] and to many separatist organisations fighting for secession in [[Kashmir]]. It has [http://www.fas.org/news/pakistan/1999/991007-pak-mis.htm strongly denied]. However, recent statements have surfaced which accuse the Pakistani information minister of having supported the separatists in the conflict in the early stages of the war. [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-6-2005_pg1_4]
+The [[Government of Pakistan]] is accused of having supplied monetary aid to the [[Taliban]] and other anti-Soviet groups to fight during the [[Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan]] and to many separatist organisations fighting for secession in [[Kashmir]]. It has [http://www.fas.org/news/pakistan/1999/991007-pak-mis.htm strongly denied] the latter; however [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-6-2005_pg1_4 some statements] made by Kashmiri militants showed the involvement of a Pakistani minister in establishing militant training camps.
 ==Terrorist groups==