Islamabad Blast

Just learnt about the bomb blast in Islamabad. Its probably the most sad I have felt about something since the Pakistan earthquake in 2005. It really hurts when you see the places you associated with-while growing up-disintergrate, causing numerous casulties in the process.

The immediate problem is the blast, but, I guess what really makes one sad is that the root of the problem remains. In fact, the US attacks over the last few weeks have been adding fuel to the fire.

It really started going south after the Lal Masjid issue last summer when the authorities opted for a "forceful solution". To me, that really blew up the whole problem and we are where we stand today.

As things stand today, bombing the heck out of the tribal areas in West Pakistan is NOT solving anything. I dont think the US has learnt lessons in Iraq? As Owen Bennett Jones says in his recent report on Pakistan:

"There is, I think, universal agreement amongst Pakistanis that, if the US continues to rely so heavily on military firepower in Afghanistan, and increasingly in Pakistan too, then the Taleban will win."

And thats exactly the point. May Allah make it easy for everyone.