|
Islamabad blast kills 40 – Zardari vows to fight terrorism |
 |
A massive blast caused by an explosives-packed truck outside Pakistan’s luxury Marriot Hotel in Islamabad killed at least 40 people and wounded 150 others on September 20. A suicide bomber is said to have driven the truck into the hotel building before it exploded. Many parts of the hotel caught fire in the minute after the explosion with flames rising up from the building for hours afterwards. The impact of the explosion left a crater about 25 feet deep and 70 ft. wide. About 100 kg of explosives was used in the attack and are reported to be heaviest in scores of bomb blasts in recent years. The impact was felt miles away from the scene and several buildings across the road were also damaged. The hotel has been bombed twice before but the Sept. 20 blast was the most devastating in Islamabad since Pakistan joined the US-led campaign against Islamic militancy after 9/11. At least one foreigner was killed and five wounded. Up to six Saudi Arabians are missing. The blast destroyed the lower portion of the entire front length of the hotel. The Army was deployed for rescue operations. The hotel was crowded with various Iftar-associated receptions at the end of another day of fasting in the Ramzan month. The hotel is located in the same high security “red zone” as the National Assembly and other important government buildings are. Security was the highest ever for President Asif Ali Zardari's maiden speech to Parliament on that day. The explosion came hours after Zardari in an address to Parliament said, “We must root out terrorism and extremism wherever and whenever they rear their ugly head.”
Reports said some senior CIA officers of America who are reported to be currently visiting Islamabad were the targets of the blast . There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast but Pakistan has faced a wave of militant violence in recent weeks. Al-Qaeda-linked militants based in hideouts at the Afghanistan border have launched a bloody campaign of bomb attacks in retaliation for offensives by Pakistan’s security forces in ethnic Pashtun tribal lands on the Afghan border. The US, frustrated by an intensifying Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, has also stepped up attacks on militants in Pakistan with six missile attacks and a helicopter-borne ground assault this month. The US strikes have angered many Pakistanis.
Zardari’s Parliament address : Promise to shed Presidential powers
The blast took place hours after the new President of Pakistan, Zardari, made his maiden speech in Parliament where he promised zero tolerance to violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, offered to shed powers usurped by military dictator Pervez Musharraf and vowed to promote trade-driven closer ties with India and fight terrorism with full force. Offering to shed his powers accumulated by former President Musharraf under the 17th Amendment, including the authority to dissolve Parliament, Zardari proposed a parliamentary committee to make amendment and suggest necessary changes. He, however, hurriedly skipped over the issue of restoration of sacked judges and perfunctorily referred to a commitment on the “independence of the judiciary”. It invited a wary comment from former Premier Nawaz Sharif, who also attended the ceremony to regret that the goal of an independent judiciary never seemed more distant. Many opposition members said they expected Zardari to announce the reinstatement of Chief Justice Choudhry but he disappointed them.
The President denounced militancy and extremism and reaffirmed commitment to establish writ of the State in the troubled tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. He said, Pakistan would remain a strong ally of the international community in its war against terrorism. But, he said, Pakistan would not tolerate violation of its territorial integrity by any world power in the name of combating terrorism.
On relations with India, Zardari pledged to carry forward a composite dialogue process for restoration of bilateral issues through peaceful means including that of Jammu and Kashmir. He talked of supporting Kashmiri people’s “struggle for fundamental rights” and significantly omitted the traditional expression of “self determination”. He said both countries were working out plans to promote trade across the Line of Control and also resolved to strengthen trade-driven relations with India and liberalize the visa regime to foster people-to-people contact.
Zardari emphasizes friendship with India
In his speech in Parliament on September 20, President Zardari said Pakistan had decided to resume the composite dialogue process which has stalled since the attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul .
New Delhi has not yet agreed to dates for the meeting as it awaits assurances from Islamabad for a terror-free atmosphere. It also wants Pakistan’s commitment to the 2003 ceasefire. Both sides are hoping that the Dr. Singh-Zardari meeting at the UN can help start it again. The Indian side would be encouraged that Zardari has given formal expression in a major policy speech to his oft-reiterated emphasis on the importance of trade in the bilateral relationship.
“Driving out relations through enhanced trade, we express our complete commitment to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for their fundamental rights,” said Zardari, leaving some disappointed that he made no mention of Pakistan’s traditional commitment to the Kashmiris right to “self determination.” Saad Rafique, a PML (N) leader, later declared his concern that while Zardari had gone a long way to emphasize friendship with India, “Kashmiri blood is flowing.” Zardari said Pakistan would “continue to seek the settlement of all outstanding disputes, including the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir so that the main hurdle in the way towards peace and full normalization of relations between Pakistan and India is removed.” Calling for a more liberal visa regime and the establishment of new facilities in Pakistan for Hindu and Sikh pilgrims, Zardari also urged Parliament to form an all-party caucus on the Kashmir and Indus waters issues – apparently different from the parliamentary committee of Kashmir- so that “the nation is united in resolving this key issue and draws strength from speaking in one voice.”
|
