Factors: urban terrorism in Pakistan

The number of incidents of ‘violence and terrorism’ in Pakistan fell by 11 percent in 2010 when compared to the previous year’s, says a report prepared by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies.

It further states that Pakistan needs to come up with an inclusive, sound and long-term strategy to tackle militancy.

According to a noted writer: “No civilised society can give to stand by and allow urban guerrilla warfare to be waged in its streets. The problem increased from the level of response that is considered enough to contain the terrorism.”

In countering urban terrorism, it is vital to launch psychological warfare so that population can be neutralized and alienated from terrorists. The problem is that this strategy may backfire if not accompanied by
socio-economic actions.

There are multiple factors of urban terrorism in Pakistan: cross-border terrorism, religious militancy, socio-economic decadence, bad governance, poverty, injustice, etc. The pace with which urban terrorism is increasing may lead to full-scale urban-guerrilla warfare, giving birth to anarchy.

In today’s world, a problem affecting a specific region can spread like wildfire in other directions. Criminal organizations have developed the ability to suddenly adopt their modus operandi and areas of intervention.

In order to combat the new trends of urban terrorism in Pakistan, government, intelligence agencies, civil society and media
should adopt an effective, well-coordinated, long-term and comprehensive strategy.

Bin Laden’s death was not an end to terrorism

President Barack Obama televises confirmation of Osama bin Laden’s death in his May 1, speech, at the White House. "Justice has been done," he said to viewers.
The death of Bin Laden brought crowds outside of the White House, in Times Square and at West Point which celebrates this victory.

“His death was a symbolic victory in the world. Bringing him to justice in some format required to happen” said Social Studies teacher Mr. Daniel Vinat.

President Obama has met with the National Security Council to discuss the quest of bin Laden, and on early April 29, he gave orders to plan an assault on his suspected position. The President issued last orders the next morning.

Bin Laden’s life was not the only one taken by United States armed forces. Three male adults, one being a son of bin Laden and are also said to have been killed. Also, one woman, who was used as a protect by a male combatant, was killed and two other women were injured (cbsnews.com).

Moments after Obama’s speech, the U.S. was put on aware by the State Department and warned of the heightened possibility for anti-American violence.

Sri Lanka seek new global laws to fight terrorism

Sri Lanka pressed ahead Tuesday with a global seminar aimed at sharing its practice of defeating terrorism despite a boycott campaign and new claims that its troops committed war crimes.

The seminar entitled “Defeating Terrorism, Sri Lankan Experience” is co-sponsored by China, but rights groups have called for a boycott and main nations such as the United States and Japan have stayed away.

A massive military offensive crushed the country’s Tamil Tiger separatists two years ago, bringing an end to ethnic violence for the first time in decades but also luminous allegations of war crimes.

On Monday, a UN envoy confirmed that a video allegedly depicting Sri Lankan troops executing Tamil Tiger rebels was authentic and that the actions constituted “definitive war crimes” that should be investigated.

A panel of experts advising UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon concluded last month that there were “credible allegations” of government forces shelling civilians and hospital and killing surrendering rebels. Sri Lanka has denied that any civilians were killed and believes it is being unfairly targeted after successfully ending a war that claimed an estimated 100,000 lives amid normal suicide bombings of government targets.