Hardly 4 months of apparent peace and we see the menace of militants taking a rebirth in NWFP, current example being the killing of 17 cops in Swat yesterday, the abduction of 16 Christians by Lashkar-e-Islam, the slaughtering of innocent drivers, attacks on Police in the outskirts of Peshawar, and the fresh wave of violence includes Taliban taking over not only the border villages of Peshawar Matani, Badhber, Sarband, Michni, Mathra but also operating in Cantonment area which is the very heart of the city and centre for many military bases. From the recent militant activity it seems like the whole movement is being operated according to a properly arranged plan as we see the Taliban militants closing in on Peshawar from all sides. Yesterday 17 cops were killed in an ambush resulting the in the death of one Taliban leader as well. At the same time letters have been issued to female educational institutes threatening to bomb the premises if the girls did start wearing a burqa or coming to the school without a male relative. Meanwhile having a cassette player in your vehicle can cost you the money you carry in your wallet as a penance, worst than that a shave can cost the poor barber his life if he does that for you.
Ironical and amusing is the fact that these obnoxious activities in the name of religion were given encouragement in the regime of the previous government in NWFP comprised by the religious parties of the countries known as Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, with Jumat-e-Islami being the prominent party. The same factors have been and are still involved in creating disturbance in the masses through such activities when they see their motives not being fulfilled. Not even this; we see them forming a strong block in colleges and universities in the name of student unions.
The question is who are these Taliban or the so called “Jihadies”? Basically these groups are a combination of selfish factors working for their establishment in the geographically important area as well as out law and out classed criminals who seek a refuge in these groups as it provide them with a safe heaven for not only carrying out their activities but also providing them with a chance of avenging the wrongs done to them in their private affairs with different people.
Indications are that police may launch a massive operation against the militants in these areas. However what makes the whole idea is doubtful are the lack of properly trained police corps and the refusal of a semi-military force Frontier Corps to provide two wings to the police for assistance and training. In the face of all these events it is not wrong to see the devastating effects of the Taliban control reaching out to Peshawar. It may become the next victim of the festering menace of the Taliban if the government did not take proper measures to face it in time.