Perilous Times
Pakistan militants seeking to exploit flood chaos
Pakistan is bracing itself for an increase in militant attacks as
insurgent groups seek to exploit the devastation caused by severe
floods.
By Rob Crilly in Islamabad and Dean Nelson in New Delhi
Published: 8:43AM BST 19 Aug 2010
Islamist insurgents attacked police posts in Pakistan's northwest,
killing two members of a local militia following an hour-long gun
battle with police.
Dozens of militants from the Khyber tribal region then attacked police
posts in Peshawar.
"As the police force is busy in rescue and relief work for flood
affectees, militants tried to take advantage of the situation to attack
Peshawar, but the police force was fully alert and vigilant," said
Liaqat Ali Khan, Peshawar's police chief.
Frustration at the slow relief effort is resulting in increasing anger.
About 100 people mobbed two trucks that were delivering food in
Shirkapur, in the southern province of Sindh. People climbed the side
of the truck to grab supplies, forcing relief workers to whip them with
lengths of rope to keep them away.
Foreign aid has begun flowing to the 20 million flood victims, as the
European Union nearly doubled its aid to 70 million euros, but the slow
pace is translating into increased hostility for President Asif Ali
Zardari.
Yesterday he risked further ire by leaving the devastated country for a
visit to Russia.
However, he insisted Pakistan would recover.
"Pakistan will come out of this a stronger nation," Mr Zardari said at
a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in southern Russia.
"We have... the capabilities, we have the people, and all tragedies
always unite nations. This tragedy will again unite us."
Fears that militants are seeking to exploit the current humanitarian
crisis in Pakistan come as the country's ISI intelligence agency said
Islamic terrorists groups have now replaced India as the main threat to
Pakistan's security.
The recognition that New Delhi is no longer the country's top security
priority is major departure for Pakistan's army which in the past has
used the 'Indian threat' to justify excessive military spending and
funding militant groups to attack Indian forces in Kashmir.
But that assessment has changed since Taliban militants launched a wave
of suicide bombings throughout the country and attacked military and
police training colleges, and even the army and ISI's own headquarters.
A senior Pakistan intelligence source last night told The Daily
Telegraph "We estimate the threat from internal forces to be priority
number one," but stressed India still "loomed" in its defence
considerations.
"India continues the loom large behind everything. That threat also
remains," he added.