‘Terror attacks across Pak’s tribal region proves Taliban still operating systematically’

ISLAMABAD - A series of terror strikes across Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces earlier this week killed nearly 45 persons and injured 100 others, which, certainly proves that the Taliban and other militant organisations are still operating systematically despite suffering heavy losses, an editorial has said.

The editorial in The Dawn, one of Pakistan’s most reputed English dailies, pointed out that though the military has inflicted heavy damage to the extremists, they are still working as a unit against the state.

“The Taliban may have suffered significant losses but they are still operating in a systematic manner, eliminating dissenters and battling enemies. On no account can the state afford to let its guard down,” the editorial stated.

Groups having links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have been battling the state for many years , and despite setbacks in Malakand. Swat and some tribal areas, are still flourishing in vast pockets of the country’s north-west region.

Even the local tribal jirgas are worried over militant groups taking advantage of the prevailing chaos amid the country’s worst natural disaster and regrouping to start targeting the security forces and general public again across the country.

Lashkar’s believe that militants are now regrouping in parts of the tribal belt and it is generally feared they could take advantage of the nation’s preoccupation with the havoc wreaked by devastating floods, the editorial went on to add.

The catastrophic floods, which have inundated nearly one-fifth of the country, have diverted the Pakistan Army’s attention from countering extremists towards relief work, and amidst the crisis extremists have shown greater ability to protect themselves even when the military has been in full flow against them. (ANI)