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What's behind the attacks on Shiites in Pakistan?

More than 300 Shiite Muslims have been killed in four major attacks in Pakistan since the start of 2013. Country-wide protests among Shiites and supporters have, however, yet to result in a full-scale crackdown on extremist militants.

 

5. Is the state complicit?

Though there is no conclusive proof of state patronage, some analysts say that elements within the state are – at best – allowing the militants to operate with impunity.

Quetta, the site of most attacks against the Shiite community, is known for the enormous presence of the paramilitary Frontier Corps. Though the Frontier Corps is officially separate from the Pakistani Army and intelligence services, other analysts say that Pakistan’s central security establishment calls the shots.

Their overwhelming presence has caused many to wonder why the Frontier Corps has failed to arrest perpetrators who carry out attacks – attacks that are sometimes recorded on video and by people whose faces are easily visible.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhury Nisar Ali Khan has hinted at the critical role played by the Frontier Corps. "How can Quetta be the repeated victim of terrorist attacks with police, Frontier Corps, security, and intelligence agencies on every corner?" asked Mr. Khan in a speech following a deadly attack against a university bus and a medical complex in the same city.

There are now some indications that the LeJ is cooperating with the Pakistani Taliban in launching attacks against Pakistani state and Shiite targets. Some analysts say that the government has an interest in maintaining good relations with the LeJ, so they can ensure that the latter do not intensify attacks against the Pakistani state.

The lack of action against the perpetrators reflects a policy of “good Taliban, bad Taliban,” says Arif Jamal, a US journalist and political analyst referring to Taliban who are dangerous only to outsiders, versus Taliban who pose a threat to the Pakistani state. Both Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) do not target the military, government, or judicial sectors, and this makes them “good Taliban.” The corps has a strategic interest in maintaining ties with militant groups that keep away from attacks on the Pakistani state's installations.

Mr. Jamal points to the 2009 attack against the Army's general headquarters in Rawalpindi by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – a group considered to be “bad Taliban” because of their attacks against the state. In that instance, the government acted quickly: Gen. Pervaiz Kayani flew in the head of LeJ, Malik Ishaq, to negotiate a settlement with the TTP.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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