KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest metropolis Karachi, which once stands at number six in a list of ‘world’s most dangerous cities’, is under the new threat of terrorism and sectarian violence as there are deep concerns that the recent development will embolden splinter groups in the southern region, a report quoting a senior police official cited.
For a long era, the country’s financial capital has served as a sanctuary for the extremism and sectarian killings, and law enforcement officials feared the resurgence of terror groups as many Afghan insurgents maintain acquaintances in Pakistan, while other shares ethnic values.
It was the previous regime when the Pakistan Army eradicated thousands of militants, destroyed their infrastructure, and cleared most of the border regions and no-go areas in Karachi leading to a major dip in deadly violence. The armed forces also detained top leadership of political parties and sealed the party’s offices across the metropolis over terror-related incidents.
However, after a period of a better situation, the crime graph has shown an uptick in targeted killings, with security personnel comprising the majority of victims.
Meanwhile, keeping in view fresh threats of terrorism, the authorities are keeping an eye on the person listed on the Fourth Schedule – the list that includes individuals affiliated with any group or organization suspected to be involved in terrorism or sectarianism.
According to the updated Fourth Schedule list, around 394 individuals are from Sindh, while 198 are from the provincial capital Karachi. Most of them are from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Lashkar e Jhangvi.
Earlier this month, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan leader Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, while felicitating Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada on capturing war-raged country in his first interview with CNN, confirmed having an affable relationship with Afghan militants.
The Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan will help them, he said while vowing to amplify attacks against the Pakistan security forces.
Last year in November, Pakistan shared a dossier with the UN, OIC, and world capitals that revealed the irrefutable proofs of the Indian sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan and called on the world to stop Indian-funded terrorism in Pakistan. The dossier provides proof of Indian financial and material sponsorship of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Balochistan Liberation Army, and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan which later become just rhetoric – despite detailed information.
It was further revealed that a militia of hundreds of fighters is commanded by India’s prime intelligence agency RAW, which had been raised for targeting projects like CPEC.
