APROPOS your editorial ‘Brussels attack’ (March 24). Although the recent attacks in Brussels have raised questions on the intelligence apparatus of Europe, Pakistan must learn lessons from it as well. Many Europeans have returned from Syria, after getting some militant training.

These elements have started showing their horrible tactics in the form of terrorist attacks on soft targets and injecting fear in the masses, coupled with increasing difficulties for refugees and peaceful minority Muslims living in Europe.

Keeping in view the above scenario, Pakistan should soon start identifying traces of IS in the country which shares a porous border with Afghanistan. Infiltration of terrorists linked to the IS is plausible.

Also, as in the case of Europe, some Pakistanis have returned from Syria, after getting militant training, and there are chances that these elements might inflict another atrocity on the already faltering and battling state of Pakistan.

In the presence of pervasive social media, radical elements do not require physical contact with their savage cohorts. So, the government needs to be watchful of the use of social websites, as well as show willingness to trace the clandestine IS networks, if any, instead of outrightly negating its presence.

Asma Nizamani
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2016