Tazeen Akhtar
As we are continuously pointing out the increasing number of women in terrorism and suicide bombings in Pakistan, there was another woman, another suicide attack and another damage to security of Pakistan on Monday 03 March in Balochistan where a Frontier Corps convoy was hit by a woman suicider killing on troop and injuring many.
Balochistan is the worst hit not only by terrorism but with woman suiciders as it is second in less than one year time. The first was in Lasbela (Name Mahil Baloch)on a check post on 26 Aug last year and the latest is in Kalat. If we add Karachi Chinese institute attack by Shaari Baloch, the number is increasing.
Multiple Attacks in Balochistan – What , Where, How, Who, Why – by Tazeen Akhtar
The photo of the latest suicider in Kalat is viral on social media and not has been shared officially so far. Her name, id and education is unknown. Yes! education is another matter of concern. Shaari Baloch and Mahil Baloch were educated women hailing from educated families of Balochistan.
The paramilitary Frontier Corps convoy was en route to security forces’ mess from the FC Fort on N-25 Quetta-Karachi highway.
“A female suicide bomber struck the security forces convoy killing one soldier of the paramilitary Frontier Corps on the spot and injuring four others who were shifted to hospital. The female suicide bomber was standing outside the FC fort located at the highway and detonated herself when they were moving from the fort to the security forces’ mess in Kalat.”
Editor Tazeen Akhtar’s write up 15 years ago in Urdu on “Who made the women suicider bombers?
Women in suicide attacks is now a common phenomenon in Pakistan.
It started in 2007 when on 4 Dec, a woman was blasted by remote device in front of a check post in Peshawar Cantonment in KPK. Second such case was on 25 Dec 2010 when a 24 year old women suicider attacked office of World Food Program killing 45 people in Khar, Bajaur, KPK. On 25 June 2011, a women attacked a police station in Kalachi , Dera Ismael Khan, KPK. On 11 Aug 2011, in Peshawar, Lahore Gate, a young girl of 17-18 blasted herself killing 5 police personnel.
These are all attacks in KPK, the tribal areas were not merged into KPK at that time. But two blasts in Peshawar, the provincial capital were enough to open the eyes and minds of the concerned officials. Notably, this new trend was observed only after the military operation at Lal Masjid Islamabad during Musharraf regime.
Next phase of women suicide attackers was after a gap of 10 years and in other provinces. First in Sindh, On 26 April 2022, Shari Baloch, an educated women having children, hit a van near the University of Karachi‘s Confucius Institute, killing three Chinese academics and their Pakistani driver.
And on the darkest day in Pakistani history, regarding attacks on security forces in the length and breadth of Balochistan , 26 Aug 2024, in Lasbela, the bordering town of Sindh and Balochistan in the south, there were two suicide attacks at FC post and Police Station. One attack was conducted by a girl of age 23 only. Her name is Mahil Baloch, student of Turbat University and daughter of Hameed Baloch R/O district Gawader.
Pakistani officials claimed that they have arrested a woman among three suspects who are involved in attack on Chinese at Karachi airport on 06 Oct 2024.
WOMEN SUICIDERS GANG POINTED OUT IN BALOCHISTAN – ONE MEMBER ARRESTED
As long as, the women’s involvement in suicide attacks in 2007 and 2011 is concerned, the factors that most of the opinion makers point out, were drone attacks in the then FATA and Lal Masjid operation.
Now when another wave of women suicide attacks is on, we need to see where are the root causes. Here are some hypothesis that the security forces can work upon to deal with them accordingly;
1- BLA and other terrorists outfits blackmail the women after kidnapping them or taking hostage their children, brothers etc
2- Young girls are brainwashed on the pretext of their rights being exploited by the security forces and Punjab/ Islamabad
3- As Mahrang Baloch came in Islamabad with a large number of women and young girls on the issue of their missing relatives, one can see the possibility that the same women opt to do it in their desperation
4- Ume Hassan of Lal Masjid has been arrested for nothing, just on the issue of construction of a Madrassa in Islamabad , her students in large number are on protest. She has hundreds of students in KPK, Balochistan and other areas. These students as they are already charged against the security forces , can be approached by the terrorists to be used as fuel for future.
It also speaks loud about the deprivation in these provinces. KPK and Balochistan are contentious target of terrorism. A deprived person, man woman, can easily misled to take revenge. Our ruling class trumpeted , CPEC as the game changer for these backward areas but the locals could see nothing in their favor in last 10 long years of first phase of this flagship project.
Had they received some benefits , taking them to terrorism would not have been such an easy job. In Balochistan especially, the locals take it as colonization of their lands. See what has been happening in Gawader!
How Pakistan can cure this ailment in our society ?
1- Do not open new pandora boxes like the arrest of Ume Hassan of Lal Masjid
2- Address the grievances of the women with Mahrang Baloch
In Balochistan, especially, Pakistan can use the political influence of the members of provincial and national assemblies, senators to reach out the women on protest individually and try to solve their problems. The women can be given some incentives in shape of financial assistance or jobs.
In KPK, the government of opposition PTI should be engaged in a dialogue on national security. Their leader should be given a free and fair trial. This will neutralize the political leaders of KPK and the center can utilize their good will in their respective territories to garner more support against the terrorists.
