Terrorist attack in Pakistan

25.10.2016
Pakistan

Dozens killed and more than a hundred injured - the result of a raid of terrorists on the Police Academy in Quetta, Balochistan province.

What happened

The attack took place at night from Monday to Tuesday. Initially police academy students were taken hostage. Later it became known that the terrorists committed a mass shooting. 59 people were killed and 117 wounded. It is likely that the number of victims will increase.

The police and the authorities claim that it is the most massive and deadly attack in recent years.

The faction of the Taliban and the connection with al-Qaeda

The responsibility for these actions was claimed by the Hakimullah group, who represents one of the structures of the Taliban. According to the Pakistani military, the attackers received instructions from neighboring Afghanistan, from the group linked to Al-Qaeda. But the attack has a religious factor, since Shiites were chosen on purpose.

Afghanistan in turn condemned the attack and denied accusations by Pakistan that the attack was planned from bases in Afghanistan. "Afghanistan is the biggest victim of terrorism and condemns all terrorist attacks" - said Mohammed Haroon Chakhanshiri, a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

 

Security problems

During the attack inside the academy, there were about 700 people, including students, instructors and staff. Something strange is the fact that the building is not well guarded, and the group of militants easily penetrated the facility.

The region has long been plagued by regular outbreaks of rebellions of low intensity, and separatism.

In addition,  Quetta is a strategic point of militants using the Kandahar-Quetta route.

Related links
Militancy, Terrorism and Regime Change in Pakistan
Patriotism vs Nationalism in Pakistan
Etiology of Terrorism
Pakistan
Terrorism
Quetta
Taliban
Al-Queda