Security concerns grow as terrorists grow bolder

TERRORISM is no more stranger to the citizens of Islamabad. It ceased to be alien to the tranquil federal capital long ago. Still no one was prepared for the ferocity of the terrorists as witnessed at the Marriott Hotel over the weekend.

Eversince the stand-off between the religious militants and the State in Lal Masjid ended in a bloodbath in July 2007, the menace has been growing, with the city being put under "high alert" every now and then.

However, step taken by the law enforcers to prevent terrorist attacks did not prove successful every time and terrorists have struck the city several times.

Local Taliban had openly threatened to hit major cities of Pakistan, including Islamabad, in August. Soon after, the secret agencies informed the capital police that eight to 10 suicide bombers had entered the city and may target sensitive foreign missions and sensitive installations.

One letter from the interior ministry even warned that the attack could be "the biggest ever", claiming more lives and causing more damage than the past attacks.

Besides, the intelligence agencies had also asked the law enforcers to keep an eye on loading vehicles – pickups, mini truck, dumpers, which may be used in terrorist attacks in the city.

In the light of the information the security in and around the capital were enhanced, especially on the occasion of President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden address to parliament’s joint session. Riot police were on the standby and plain-clothed agents were swarming the parliament building and other police contingents guarding the route from the Presidency to the Parliament House with sniffer dogs.

Besides, Rangers were also deployed to guard the parliament building and at all the entry points of the capital. However, all the efforts of the law enforcers proved to be a failure when terrorists rammed a truck into the main gate of Marriott Hotel, turning it into an inferno, killing 53 people and injuring over 200 people.

So devastating was the blast that it damaged several buildings in the vicinity, destroyed hundreds of vehicles, and huge crater on the road.

This was the second suicide attack on the hotel. Earlier a suicide bomber blew himself at the gate on January 2007.

The senior police officials, however, attribute shortage of personnel to their failure in curbing terrorism as according to them it was very difficult to guard every place.

The officials admit that they have no device and equipments, including explosive detectors, to scan or detect explosives.

Besides, it was impossible to scan and search every person and vehicle entering the capital. Scanners and sniffer dogs are much needed at all the entry points of the capital.

The adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior denied security laps. However, new arrangement of security would be adopted and the law enforcers would be provided modern equipment to combat and curb such incidents.

He further said that CCTV camera would be installed on every road.

Eight terrorist incidents – five suicide and two planted explosions have taken place in Islamabad since January 26, 2007.

Many, such as the former chief of genera-staff of Pakistan army, Lt-Gen (Retired) Shahid Aziz, trace the origins of the menace to the US-supported jihad fought in the 1980s against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and its current war on terror.

In a recent newspaper article, Gen. Aziz described the acts of terrorism of the Afghan Taliban and their supporters as "mere tactics" in their unequal fight to free Afghanistan from the US occupation.