Close
del.icio.us		furl.net
stumbleupon		yahoo my web
technorati		google bookmark
windows live		reddit

Eight Pakistanis, mostly policemen, were killed when commando-style gunmen attacked the convoy with rocket-propelled grenades and AK47 machine guns.The poor security for the visitors and the ease with which the terrorists were able to target the team, has further isolated both Pakistan as a global hub of terrorism and a venue for international cricket.President Asif Zardari was forced to apologise to his Sri Lankan counterpart yesterday for the lack of protection, while the International Cricket Council officials said it was unlikely that international cricket matches could be played in Pakistan again until the security situation has dramatically improved.The revelation that security warnings for such a sensitive match will fuel further criticism. Sri Lanka had stepped in to play Pakistan after India withdraw following last november's attack on Mumbai by Pakistani terrorists. The Sri Lankans came under intense pressure to pull out from India amid concerns about the country's poor security situation.A leaked report from Punjab's Crime Investigation Department (CID), passed to Pakistani papers reveals that authorities were warned almost six weeks ago, of a plot and urged the all security agencies in the state and federal governments to take special precautions to protect the visitors.The report identifies the Indian intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), as the force behind the plot – an accusation regularly traded between India and Pakistan – but specifically identified the drive between their hotel and the stadium as the scene of the attack.Pakistani newspapers quoted the report, dated January 22nd 2009, warning:"It has reliably been learnt that RAW (Indian intelligence agency) has assigned its agents the task to target Sri Lankan cricket team during its current visit to Lahore, especially while travelling between the hotel and stadium or at hotel during their stay."It is evident that RAW intends to show Pakistan a security risk state for sports events, particularly when the European and the Indian teams have already postponed their proposed visits considering it a high security risk to visit Pakistan .Extreme vigilance and heightened security arrangements indicated." A further letter from Punjab's then chief minister Shahbaz Sharif's office to Lahore's Inspector-General of Police and security ministers, requested extra security protection for the tourists. "The chief minister has seen the enclosed source report and has desired that every effort may be made for the security of the Sri Lankan cricket team during its current visit to Lahore. He has further desired that extreme vigilance and heightened security arrangement may be made to avert any untoward incident," his officials wrote.The correspondence and the 'secret report' have been leaked in a new political row over who is to blame. Sharif was forced to stand down as chief minister shortly before the attack after a Supreme Court ruling that he had been ineligible to stand for the post. His government was dismissed and President Asif Ali Zadari imposed the state's governor Salman Taseer as acting chief executive.

Posted by  Vishal Mirani | Views 356  |  Share Blog