Central and South Asia

Pakistan attacks

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A series of attacks on security forces in Pakistan has killed at least 38 people, officials say. Thursday’s violence began in Lahore – Pakistan’s second-largest city. It was long spared the brunt of Pakistan’s unrest but has seen a number of attacks since the start of the year. We get an update on the situation from the BBC’s Aleem Maqbool. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• In pictures: Lahore attacks
• Inside the Taliban

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MARCO WERMAN: This is The World.  There is a growing sense of crisis in Pakistan.  The country has been under pressure from repeated attacks by Taliban militants in recent days.  The latest came today.  Gunmen dressed in police uniforms staged three simultaneous attacks in the City of Lahore.  The militants targeted buildings used by Pakistan’s security forces.  There were also two car bombings in Northwest Pakistan.  Various attacks over the past two weeks have killed more than a 150 people.  The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool is in Islamabad. Aleem, what is the latest on the ground in Pakistan?  How are authorities explaining why they couldn’t prevent these very audacious attacks on several sties?

ALEEM MAQBOOL: Yes, it’s extraordinary how things have changed.  A couple of weeks ago things were relatively calm.  The number of attacks had decreased.  Now we’ve had eleven simultaneous days where things have been going on.  We’ve seen attacks in Islamabad, in Peshawar, in Swat and in Rawalpindi in the main army headquarters over the weekend.  And now these audacious attacks in Lahore, coordinated attacks in broad daylight.  Now, a couple of weeks ago the government was boasting that they had broken the back of the Taliban in their words. Well, they’re speaking in a very different language now. They’re talking about not underestimating the militants.

WERMAN: Many of these gunmen were wearing suicide vests and blew themselves up when they were cornered, right?

MAQBOOL: Yes, and that is what the government is saying.  They’re saying look we can put in all the security we want, but if there are people who have no regard for their own lives who are prepared to blow themselves up, then what are we to do to defend against that?  It’s very, very difficult.  What is needed, of course, is an attack at the root of the issue in Taliban territory in the tribal areas, and that’s something the government had been talking about.  They had been saying they were about to launch a new major offensive against the Taliban.  It just feels like the militants have tried to seize the initiative.

WERMAN: Now, the Pakistani Province of Punjab is next to India.  It’s the most powerful and populated province.  Some are saying it’s increasingly vulnerable.  Just how vulnerable are we talking about?

MAQBOOL: You raise a very good point.  This isn’t just about the tribal areas any more.  This is a very different problem now where militancy has infiltrated into the very fabric of society in Pakistan, and what the government is saying is they recognize that.  But this isn’t just their problem. This is a problem which affects the whole world, global security.  The most complex problems in the world they feel here in Pakistan, and they need much more help from the outside world if they’re going to deal with it effectively from the United Kingdom, from Europe and particularly from the United States.

WERMAN: The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad.  Thank you.

MAQBOOL: You’re welcome.

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