The attack on Peshawar school by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants claiming 142 lives is no Jihad. Shocking is the way well armed Islamic militants targeted school children of Army Public School Peshawar. Call it barbaric, such inhuman attacks reflect the cowardice of militants which should be condemned widely. The dastardly act reminds one of 2004 Belsan carnage that saw Chechen Islamic terrorists taking over a school in North Ossetia, which was part of Soviet Union, resulting in the death of 186 children. Doctrined in Jihad and militancy these militants find education as a deterrent in carrying forward their agenda so target the school children. Few years back when Taliban took over Swat Valley an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan they blew up many schools. Surprisingly the attack comes immediately after Malala Yousafzai, who survived Taliban attack to champion the cause of educating children was awarded Nobel Peace Prize. Even if one takes the action of Jihadis as a retaliatory one against the Pakistan Army’s recent operation against them then also targeting school children should be termed as the most despicable act. Now at least Pakistan should realise the futility of nurturing such elements. Is this incident the Pakistan Army’s turnaround moment? Will the deaths of innocent children convince the Pak Army to stop supporting terror as a political tool? Despite the public solidarity, there’s little expectation that Pakistan will end its strategic relationship with terror. Politicians like Imran Khan hesitated to call out Taliban by name in their condemnation. While the Peshawar incident is the worst attack the litmus test for Pakistan Army will be to revisit policies, there may be a chance of a paradigm shift. If blame is apportioned to outside countries, it’ll be business as usual. The Pakistan Army’s anti-Taliban operation in North Waziristan has missed the Haqqani network leadership. Similarly, Hafiz Saeed held a huge rally when the Pakistan Army Chief was in the US. For a paradigm shift in Pakistan, all of this must change.
