This is Not Just Pakistan’s Problem

The terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday
 is a despicable act that deserves to be condemned in strongest terms. Sri Lanka had shown solidarity with Pakistan and sent its national team to play in the country after many others including the Australians had backed out.

The attack that in many ways was similar to the November 26 Mumbai attacks had been carried out by a dozen
 men wearing backpacks throwing grenades and firing machine guns. Thankfully, top Lankan players have escaped with minor injuries and bullet wounds although seven people including five security personnel died in the attack.

However, the damage this incident has done to Pakistan’s image around the world is incalculable. Whoever planned and executed these attacks, they targeted the South Asian nation’s reputation as a peace-loving, safe and stable country. As it is, the former cricket world champion and cricket-crazy nation has been finding it difficult to host international sporting events. After this cowardly attack, it may be months and years before any top cricket squad could be willing to play on the country’s soil. But this is not just about cricket or sports.

The issue at stake is Pakistan’s very future and its viability as a nation state in a sensitive neighbourhood. With unrest prevailing along its border with Afghanistan and its tensions with India, not to mention the political confrontation between the government and opposition, the Lahore attack couldn’t have come at a more inappropriate moment for the country. 
Security arrangements provided by the
 government to the visiting cricket team proved woefully inadequate when they were badly needed.

Lahore happens to be the capital of Pakistan’s
 biggest province Punjab. The city has of late witnessed violent protests following the 
ouster of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and disqualification of his 
brother former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan Muslim League headed by the senior Sharif has its large support base in Punjab.

The Supreme Court verdict that barred the Sharifs from holding an elected office was, the Sharifs allege, dictated by President Asif Ali Zardari. The ensuing Governor rule in
 Punjab saw immense administrative upheavals in the police and other
 posts. The security forces have been struggling to control the violent 
agitation by PML workers and this is what is perceived to be the
 main factor that led to the security 
lapse on Tuesday.

Not 
only will the incident lead to further chaos and unrest, it is bound 
to have an impact on the lawyers’ agitation that is expected 
to resume next week with a long march to Islamabad.

Pakistan has witnessed several terror attacks in the recent past,
 majority of them targeting the establishment and the
 government to dissuade it from pursuing militant groups along Afghan border. Even though there is little 
evidence to suggest who may be responsible for the Lahore
 attack, wild theories are doing the rounds in Pakistani media about the possible involvement of Al Qaeda, Tamil Tigers and even RAW. Some suggest it could be linked 
to the militants in Swat. There’s also a theory that the attack could have been an attempt to take the wind out of the opposition’s sails.

Whatever be the truth, this attack goes to underscore the clear and present danger Pakistan and the world face in extremism. This is not just Pakistan’s problem any more. As US special envoy to the region Richard Holbrooke suggested during his recent visit, it’s time for the entire region - Pakistan, India and Afghanistan - to collectively take on the spectre of terrorism.