The contradiction between the statements and actions of the Fitna al-Khawarij (the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), ”heavily infiltrated by the criminals”, once again came to light when its terrorists, who claim to protect people’s lives and property, blew up a vital link bridge in Jani Khel tehsil of Bannu district while attempting to target a security forces convoy, thereby multiplying the hardships of local residents.
According to sources, in the Mali Khel area of Jani Khel, the militants had planted explosives beneath the bridge to strike a passing security forces convoy. The blast destroyed the bridge completely. After the incident, local residents expressed anger and resentment, condemning what they called a cowardly act, and describing it as a direct assault on the peace and development of the region.
Residents said that the roads, mosques, schools, seminaries and health facilities built in the area are meant for the welfare of the people, yet these militants behave in stark contradiction. “In their video messages they pose as sympathisers of the public,” one local remarked, “but in reality they steal people’s livestock, extort food, and money at gunpoint, blow up gas pipelines, target mosques, seminaries and schools, attack children, use ordinary people including women and children as human shields, and now destroy bridges which serve the very same people.” Such behaviour, they said, could never be tolerated. “Whether Afghan or of any other identity, their acts fall purely in the category of spreading fasad (chaos).”
Residents further noted that the militants’ actions mirror those of their patrons and masters in Afghanistan, with the sole purpose of inflicting suffering on the common people. “All of these attacks are against Islam,” locals added. “If they were true Muslims, they would never commit such deplorable acts in their own land. They would instead go to Kashmir or Palestine to fight against the enemies of Islam and Muslims. But sadly, they have turned into enemies of their own nation and people.”
Expressing outrage over the difficulties faced by patients and elderly people after the destruction of the bridge, the residents openly challenged the militants: “If you are really so powerful, then come forward and fight openly instead of carrying out cowardly attacks.”
Locals also pointed out that only recently the same militants had abducted a tribal elder from Domel tehsil in Bannu simply because he refused to provide them with food. “These so-called guardians of the people are in fact their tormentors,” one villager said. “They steal livestock, forcibly demand usher (a form of levy), send extortion slips, and threaten to kill anyone who refuses, and at times they even try to carry out those threats.”
But, residents added, this is not where the list of atrocities ends. The militants often take shelter in populated areas, using them as cover while planning sabotage and preparing explosives. At times, these devices explode accidentally, killing local people, including women and children. Worst of all, locals complained, the militants deliberately use women and children as human shields during attacks on security forces, and when the latter tighten operations against them, the militants attempt to save themselves by hiding among the same local populations.
Security experts commenting on the incident said there is only one conclusion: as long as the militants’ safe havens in Afghanistan remain intact, fully stopping such acts of terrorism will remain extremely difficult, if not impossible. They accused the Afghan Taliban of duplicity, playing a “double game” with Pakistan. “The Taliban may not realise this yet,” one analyst warned, “but the foreign terrorists sheltering on Afghan soil will eventually turn into a Frankenstein’s monster for them, and one day become the reason for the end of their control over Kabul and Afghanistan.”
