Islamist assault on Karachi airport: 24 dead, over 20 injured
Karachi (AsiaNews
/ Agencies) - This morning, clashes resumed in the main airport of Karachi, in
the southern province of Sindh, between Pakistani security forces and
fundamentalist groups. Yesterday
an attack by gunmen killed at least 24 people, most of whom were airport employees
and security personnel, and wounded more than 20. Ten of the victims were
extremist militants, killed during a six hour shoot out with the military. " "We have relaunched the operation and called
in additional troops," said Sibtain Rizvi, spokesman for the Rangers
paramilitary force.
The
first phase of the violent clashes at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi
began late last night and continued until dawn. Equipped
with suicide vests, grenades and rocket launchers, they battled security forces
in what local media have described as one of the most brazen attacks in years
in Pakistan's biggest city.
The
assault again raises the issue of security in the Asian nation; The
Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack, in response to
the killing of chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a U.S. drone attack last November. It
also follows the deadlock of peace talks between Islamabad and Taliban groups. Local
officials report that it appeared
the militants had aimed to hijack a plane that passengers were boarding at the
main terminal, but that when they were repelled they "went on the rampage".
The government launched peace talks with the Taliban in January, followed by the presentation last month of the first Code of Conduct on national security. Neither initiative stopped the spiral of Islamic extremist violence that has bloodied the country for some time now. If, on the one hand, the TTP has vowed to respect the cease- fire, on the other, Taliban militia groups have attacked institutions, police stations and military targets on several occasions. In response, the army has carried out a series of raids in the tribal areas against Islamist strongholds.
The truce between the
government and Taliban expired on April 16 , but the Islamists have confirmed
their intention to continue negotiations. Moreover, in the context of the
talks, the Taliban demand the release of hundreds of prisoners, the army's
withdrawal from the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan and the introduction of
Islamic law (sharia).
With a population of more than 180 million people (97 per cent Muslim),
Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, the second largest
Muslim nation after Indonesia. About 80 per cent of Muslims are Sunni, whilst
Shias are 20 per cent. Hindus are 1.85 per cent, followed by Christians (1.6
per cent) and Sikhs (0.04 per cent). Violence against ethnic and religious
minorities is commonplace across the country, with Shia Muslims and Christians
as the main target, with things getting worse. Violence against ethnic or
religious minorities is commonplace across the country, from the province of
Punjab in the north to Karachi in the southern province of Sindh, where more
than 2,200 people were killed in the first eight months of 2012.
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