ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: The military government has tightened security at churches after the massacre of 15 Christians and a police guard, Minorities Minister S.K. Tressler said on Tuesday.

“Special arrangements have been made and we hope and are sure no repeat of this incident is going to be allowed,” he told a news conference.

“The communities should not solely depend on government security agencies and should themselves take measures for their security,” Mr Tressler said.

Officials say police reinforcements have been deployed around Christian monuments across the country to protect the minority after the worst single massacre of Christians in Pakistan’s history.

The minister declined to say who was to blame for the killings or to say if they were linked to the US-led air strikes against Afghanistan.

However, he hinted at the existence of people trying to persuade Pakistan to switch its backing for the strikes.

“There are parties interested against Pakistan who would like to create fear in the minds of the people, not to go ahead fully to win the campaign against terrorists,” he said. Asked whether there was any danger of further attacks on the minorities if the US blitz persisted, Mr Tressler said: “I don’t think so.’’—Reuters