Source: channelnewsasia
Security forces in Pakistan claimed to have killed around 100 militants in a nationwide crackdown, a day after an Islamic State group (IS) bomber killed nearly 80 pilgrims at Pakistan’s most famed Sufi shrine in Sindh. The explosion at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was one of the deadliest ever in Pakistan.
The incident took place after numerous other extremist attacks earlier this week regardless of the army’s continuing attacking against militants. After Thursday’s violence on the 13th century shrine, army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had said, “Each drop of the nation’s blood shall be avenged and avenged immediately. No more restraint for anyone.”
The military also propelled a search-and-strike task in Khyber Agency’s Shalman near the Pak-Afghan border, using heavy weaponry. Many fatalities might have taken place there, said security officials. Of the total extremists killed on Friday, 46 were accounted for, as per the army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release.
The Rangers claimed to have killed 18 terrorists in overnight operations, of which, seven were killed in a shootout on a highway near Kathor.
As per an official release, 13 terrorists were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest while four were slayed in Lower Orakzai of Orakzai Agency and 11 were killed in Karachi. Government said scores of suspects were also detained.
As per the Political observers, the crackdown seemed a predictable response. “When you (army) have information about the presence of terrorists, why don’t you act before they strike?” asked Mazhar Abbas, a security analyst.
Since February 13, eight terror attacks have taken place. In the latest attack, an alleged suicide bomber blew himself up near the gate of the shrine of Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sindh province of Pakistan late Thursday evening. The incident killed at least 100 people and injured over 250. As per the police, the blast happened during a Sufi ritual called Dhamaal, when hundreds of devotees were present inside the place.
The Pakistani army chief reacted strongly to the attack, saying the nation’s forces would retaliate every drop of Pakistani blood and that limitation would not be shown for anyone. The ISIS claimed responsibility for the incident via its Aamaq news agency. It said a suicide bomber had targeted a “Shiite gathering” at the shrine in Sindh and also released a picture purportedly of the bomber.
The European Union condemned the attack with a spokesperson of the the EU’s diplomatic service, European External Action Service, saying, “We express our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. We are determined to stand by Pakistan in fighting all forms of terrorism and will continue to strengthen our cooperation with Pakistan in this regard.”
The United Nations also released a statement that quoted Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ as saying, “The United Nations supports the government of Pakistan in its fight against terrorism in full respect of international and human rights norms.” “We call for the perpetrators of this attack to be brought to justices swiftly,” added the statement.
The US condemned the attack as well. “We stand with the people of Pakistan in their fight against terrorism and remain committed to the security of the South Asia region,” acting State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said, adding, “We will continue to work with the Government of Pakistan and our partners across the region to combat the threat of terrorism.”