PESHAWAR: Four years ago, journalists used to go to Waziristan for the story. Today, the story itself reached Peshawar. In October 2003, a team of journalists reached Baghar in South Waziristan, to file follow-up stories of the maiden airstrike on a suspected Al Qaeda or Taliban hideout. A local journalist planned an early morning departure for the site of the strike without official permission. Four years on, a look at the damage caused by Friday eveningÂ’s car bomb blast near the historic Qisakhawani bazaar and an attack on parked trucks carrying NATO supplies testifies the danger has arrived as close as possible.
The government itself is a hostage. An Iraq-like green zone was established in Peshawar with checkposts on the roads leading to important offices and residences. High profile kidnapping and murders have added to the fears of Peshawar residents. Security analysts forecast that Peshawar might face an even worse scenario if over 500 hardened militants camping in Khyber Agency storm the provincial capital and the army is called upon to reclaim the city. The ever increasing pressure on Peshawar from militants will make things more difficult for the ANP government which is facing an ‘internal debate’ on whether to abandon governance or to take the fight to its logical end.The symptoms of a Beirut-like situation are emerging. Living in Peshawar is like dancing to the tune of death. |