report in Times of India online, Dec 1, 2022 at 05.10 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has topped the list of countries at the highest risk of experiencing new mass killings, according to a new report.
The report cites violence by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as one of the main challenges for the nation already facing political and economic crises.
It said that Pakistan is estimated to have about a one in six chance of experiencing a new mass killing in 2022 or 2023.
Notably, a suicide bombing carried out by Pakistan Taliban in Quetta on Wednesday killed 4 and injured several others, just days after the local offshoot of Taliban announced that it’s ending ceasefire with Islamabad.
“Pakistan faces multiple security and human rights challenges, including increasing violence by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,” said a report by Early Warning Project, a research organization that identifies countries at risk of mass violence.
Threats of attacks by the Islamic State and the country’s blasphemy laws, which have resulted in episodes of mob violence against religious minorities, were other factors for Pakistan’s high-risk ranking.
Political volatility, following the ouster of former premier Imran Khan, was also expected to lead to “highly contentious” elections next year, according to the report.
Notably, it marks the third assessment in a row that Pakistan has ranked at highest risk among all 162 countries.
Pakistan is followed by countries like Yemen, Myanmar, Chad and Ethiopia.
TTP trouble
The Pakistani Taliban on Monday ended a months-long ceasefire with the government in Islamabad, ordering its fighters to resume attacks across the country.
The announcement came a day before Pakistan’s new army chief Gen. Asim Munir took charge of the powerful military.
Although Pakistan kept relations with the Afghan Taliban during the long insurgency to drive western forces out of Afghanistan, it has been fighting the TTP in its own borders for years, even though the outfit has ties to the Afghan Taliban.
The TTP wants to overthrow Pakistan’s government to replace it with a governance system that subscribes to their own harsh interpretation of Islamic laws.
The group, which is believed to be close to al-Qaida, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.
The Pakistan army has conducted several operations against the militants in their strongholds in lawless districts along Afghan border in recent months.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-tops-list-of-nations-at-risk-of-mass-killings-report/articleshowprint/95913452.cms
