Pakistan school massacre

The attack last Tuesday was on such a horrendous scale that even  the Afghan Taliban that is loosely affiliated to the Pakistan group distanced itself from the episode, empathising that the killing of children and women was against Islam. Indeed, the  South West Asia chapter of Al-Qaeda, which is sworn to fighting and defeating ‘Western […]

The attack last Tuesday was on such a horrendous scale that even  the Afghan Taliban that is loosely affiliated to the Pakistan group distanced itself from the episode, empathising that the killing of children and women was against Islam. Indeed, the  South West Asia chapter of Al-Qaeda, which is sworn to fighting and defeating ‘Western imperialism’ issued a statement of condemnation, asserting its heart was ‘bursting with pain’ over the massacre.  There is no doubt therefore that the attack caused human tragedy of monumental proportion.  The entire world is in grief with this tragic event.
As the gunmen invaded the school, which is run by the Pakistani army, the explosions and gunfire that rang out echoed around the world, marking one of the bloodiest encounters in the country’s history. Ten members of staff were among the dead. In the ensuing fire fight with security forces, all the attackers were also killed.
It all began in the morning when nine gunmen disguised as paramilitary personnel climbed the rear wall of the Army Public School and Degree College, a school of about 2,500 pupils, including boys and girls, according to a senior security official.
The attackers stormed through the school, lobbing grenades and shooting indiscriminately.
Mushtaq Ghani, the information minister for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, confirmed that most of the victims were felled by gunshots to the head.
A spokesperson for the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while taking responsibility for the attack, said it was in retaliation for the military’s offensive against militants in North Waziristan tribal district.
As for the target, the Taliban justified their choice of the school because it mainly admits soldiers’ children and because the students aspired to become soldiers like their fathers and therefore would target militants in future.
As the Pakistani security forces responded, some of the attackers blew themselves up while others were killed by members of the army’s Special Service group commando unit.
The Taliban said they are fighting for a religion; but no credible religion permits the wanton killings of innocent people.
Their twisted logic in interpreting Islam to suit their murderous purpose does not sit well with the true adherents of the religion, as they must be aware that Islam upholds the sanctity of life.
Even if they were aggrieved, the targeting of children, even in a military-run academy, cannot be justified on any ground.
As the al-Qaeda pointed out, if the Pakistani Taliban must confront any group, it should be the army, not women and children.
The tragedy has prompted the Pakistan government to abrogate the moratorium on death penalty in terrorism related cases. Sure enough, a couple of days later, a number of Taliban members convicted earlier and sentenced to death were executed; the group promised retaliation and the government has intensified its bombing campaigns targeting the members.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called an all-parties’ conference to develop a consensus on Pakistan’s strategy against groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The Taliban action has justifiably earned it worldwide revulsion and a place in the book of infamy.  
The government must however take the threat of retaliation seriously and be vigilant.