Terrorists struck once again in Quetta on last Sunday. Two suicide bombers entered the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church located in a high security zone whilst about 400 worshippers attended a special Christmas congregation. They were intercepted by an alert and brave security guard at the entrance. Before losing his own life in the encounter, he killed one of bombers but the other, failing to reach the target, blew himself up near the front of the church hall. Nine people were killed and another 56 injured in the blast. Talking to the media the Home Minister, the IG Police, and DC Quetta seemed to underplay the horror as they kept emphasizing the casualty figure would have been much higher had the law enforcement agencies not taken immediate action. But then had there been better intelligence collection and sharing, perhaps, the attack could have been stopped in its tracks. It is a relief, indeed, that so many other lives were saved. Still, even one innocent life lost is one too many.
Political leaders, both inside and outside the government, as well as the Army chief have issued statements condemning the attack and expressing solidarity with 'our Christian brothers'. That though is of little help. Unfortunately, Quetta has been the scene of recurring terrorist violence despite a heavy presence of the security forces in that small city. If the government claims are to be believed, Baloch insurgency is almost under control as more and more militants have been surrendering their arms. The responsibility for the church attack, however, has been claimed by the IS, which has been indiscriminately killing people in other parts of the country as well. Back in March '16, in a suicide bombing by an IS linked group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, at Lahore's Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, 75 people were killed and 340 others injured, mostly Christians as they celebrated Easter.
For long those in authority have been in denial about the existence of IS in this country, yet it has been taking credit for various acts of terrorism in Balochistan and other places. Following the military operation in North Waziristan, the TTP terrorists having lost their operational bases may be down but they not out yet. They along with other violent extremist groups continue to play havoc with innocent lives every now and then. As usual, following the latest carnage, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal while condemning it said Pakistan's enemies wanted to spread violence in the country. The 'enemies' of course would want to hurt this country. But pointing the finger at the 'foreign hand' is not going to solve anything. Those who carry out these evil acts are homegrown terrorists. The IS and TTP leaders may have their safe havens across the border in Afghanistan, but they have foot soldiers and facilitators in this country. The interior ministry needs to put its own house in order.