Lahore Attacks

The latest news reports suggest that police have unearthed evidence of Lashkar e Toiba’s involvement in the Lahore attacks on the Sri Lankan cricketers. The plot had been allegedly hatched to take the cricketers hostage to bargain for release of LeT’s top guns Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al Qama and Hamad Amin Sadiq incarcerated in Adiali Jail in Rawalpindi. The involvement of Al Qaida has also not been completely ruled out in the audacious attacks on cricketers near Liberty Chowk.
Although the intended victims escaped with ‘minor bruises’, the nightmarish attacks have left many shuddering. Questions have been raised about the preparedness of the police, who were providing security to the players and officials. The former president of Pakistan was dubious about the reaction of the police. Chris Broad and Simon Tauffel, two officials who were being ferried along with the players albeit in separate vehicles, have gravely accused the security of abandoning them in the time of distress. Eyebrows have been already raised in certain quarters about security management of the day.
One of the direct fallout of this unfortunate event is the long shadow that it has cast on the multi million dollars Indian Premier League cricket tournament. Now that the security of the region has been cast in poor light, many foreign players contracted with the league have started voicing their concerns about playing in India. Since the IPL tournament coincides with general elections in India, the government has shown great reluctance in providing security. It is clearly doubtful whether this high profile tournament can now go ahead as per the schedule. The Bangladesh cricket board has refused to play their scheduled bilateral matches citing security reasons. This vindicates the fact that the repercussions of Lahore attacks have been wide.
What is the way forward from here?
If the ties with Pakistan is snapped by other cricket playing nations, it could indirectly lead to fostering terrorism and victory of the terror networks. Although involvement of Pakistan in near future is impossible, it must be brought back to the fold by International Cricket Council without too much delay. Some in the cricket fraternity have already made suggestions such as hosting Pakistan in neutral venues.
Another area of grave concern is that if Pakistan becomes a failed state, the terror networks will have a free run; they will be in a position to set the world on the path of ruin. This must not be allowed to happen. Pakistan must be made accountable to all that happens by the world community. It is a proven fact that the Pakistani soil is being used by the terror networks to create mayhem worldwide. The Pakistani administration must bring such groups to justice.