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WITH an act of terrorism, Turkey's largest city—Istanbul saw mayhem on Thursday when almost 30 people lost their lives and over 450 received injuries as a result of terrorist bombing of the British consulate and the British-owned HSBC bank.

Twenty-five people were killed and more than 300 injured earlier in the city when there were similar attacks at two synagogues. Our hearts go with the Turkish brethren who are mourning the gruesome tragedy. Pakistan has already echoed feelings of the nation in condemning the horrendous acts of terrorism.

As the attacks came following similar bombing in Riyadh recently, Foreign Office spokesman has rightly pointed out that these exposed a sinister design and a consistent pattern to increasingly target Muslim countries. Though Turkish news agency, Anatolia quoted an anonymous telephone caller as saying the attacks were a joint action by Al-Qaeda and a Turkish resistance group Islamic Front of Raiders of the Great Orient [IBDA-C] but there are many other factors to suggest that one should not jump to conclusion or blame.

As a matter of fact it is very easy for anyone to pick up handset and claim responsibility on behalf of someone else. It has now become a fashion to blame each and every awful thing under the sun on Al-Qaeda. It is bizarre that after obliteration of 80% of its structure—as the Americans themselves claimed—in Afghanistan and an unparalleled well-coordinated worldwide campaign spanning over two years, the group still has the capability to operate at will and target anything anywhere despite highest degree of security alert.

Such diffusion is possible only if the group enjoys confidence and sympathy of the people at large, which it doesn’t. Such episodes taking place in the backdrop of lofty security precautions suggest that they could be handiwork of some sophisticated network. It is also significant to point out that no Muslim worth the name would dare indulge in such a devious act of carnage of guiltless people and that too during the holy month of Ramazan.

Similarly, the timing of the incident is also very fascinating as it took place when President Bush was visiting Britain as an un-welcomed guest and his friend Tony Blair was facing tough questions over his role in the war against terrorism. It could also be a shot to subvert Turkey politically and derail the process of economic development by creating law and order situation. Already, the HSBC bank has closed down all its branches in the country while Britain has issued a travel advisory to its citizens warning them vis-à-vis visiting Turkey.

While articulating all-inclusive solidarity with Turkey, we hope it would go deep into the plot and opt for every obligatory channel to thwart all types of wicked designs of the each foe n’ adversary, who-so-ever it may be—even with Al-Qaeda atop—with an iron-hand, to bring the ferocious acts of terrorism—in its all forms n’ manifestations—to a permanent end.

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