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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Security situation in Gilgit deteriorates |
| 2005-05-03 |
| EFL Ahead of the opening of Pak-China trade corridor through the Khunjerab Pass today (Sunday), the security situation in Gilgit remains volatile threatening the trade passage. The District Gilgit in particular and the northern areas in general remain in turmoil ever since the flare up of sectarian violence back in January when Aga Ziauddin was gunned down and the tit-for-tat violence ensued. The situation turned alarming with the ambush of the inspector-general's motorcade, injuring the family members and killing the top police official along with four of his security guards on March 23. The government spun into action by shutting down educational institutions, clamping curfew and calling in the Army, contingent of the Punjab Rangers and the Northern Area Scouts besides taking other administrative measures. However the situation is far from stable as even the government officials, including those of Army, Northern Light Infantry and police, were identified and murdered while travelling in buses in areas falling under the control of rival sectarian militia. Casualties due to bomb explosions, ambuscades and sniper firing in Nultar have become a daily routine and so is the blockade of the Karakoram Highway (KKH). But in spite of all this the government has failed to enforce its writ. The federal government and the Ministry of Kashmir and Northern Areas have failed to act on the crucial demands of the police both in terms of posting of security personnel and giving equipment. According to sources, the Gilgit police are without necessary wherewithals inevitable to fight terrorism. In an area which is ranking high in volatility the whole KANA region does not have any armoured personnel carrier besides G-3 rifles, night vision devices, bullet proof jackets, telephone monitoring equipment, etc, the sources said. This all is happening at a time, when the whole trade corridor likely to open today is divided among the rival sectarian factions, ie the route from Gilgit to Khunjerab (border with China), is controlled by Shia militants, while the area from Gilgit to Mansehra falls under the Sunni militants serious, concerted action is required in order to avoid an international embarrassment affecting the trade route. |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #1 One wonders - over population, illiterate, drugs and a nutz-o religion.... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-05-03 09:32 |