THE blast targeting railway tracks just outside Karachi on Tuesday night is cause for concern, pointing to a possible change in tactics by separatist militants in Sindh. The bomb, said to be an IED, derailed a Lahore-bound train and resulted in the death of a child, while rail traffic to and from Karachi was suspended. At the time of writing, no group had claimed responsibility, while police are also tight-lipped. It is clear that this is a very disturbing method of sabotage; considering the large number of people who use the railways as their primary mode of travel between Sindh and other provinces, such acts of terrorism can paralyse movement. Train tracks have been targeted in Sindh before, with suspicion falling on fringe separatist groups, but this is the first time a blast of such intensity has taken place, resulting in loss of life.

Some police officials have said the bombing could either be the work of religious militants or nationalist groups. Only further investigations can establish the facts. As far as religious militants are concerned, while they are capable of carrying out major acts of terrorism, derailing trains is not part of their modus operandi. That leaves the possibility of separatist militants. If it is proved hardline nationalists are involved, it would signal a troubling change in tactics, with the militants graduating from throwing crackers to using powerful bombs. Trouble has slowly been brewing in Sindh, as near-simultaneous cracker blasts in several towns on the eve of a nationalist strike last month showed. The train blast is, therefore, a warning sign to the authorities to address the issue of separatist militancy before it grows. Sindh has seen bouts of violence in the past and the province can ill-afford to add to its law and order woes. The primary responsibility rests with the PPP-led provincial government which must identify what is feeding disaffection in Sindh. Holding cultural extravaganzas is welcome, but the core issues that affect Sindh’s people must be addressed earnestly. The PPP has roots in Sindh; the party must forthrightly tackle the factors fuelling separatist sentiment while the administration needs to remain vigilant to deal with terrorism of all stripes.