September 21st, 2008 
krishna Explosion Militants struck again the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday evening, September 20 when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside of the Marriott Hotel. According to the reports the suicide bomber had come with a explosives laden truck and blew it off in front of the gates. It is being said that almost 1000kg of explosives were used in the blast. It was so powerful explosion that Marriott’s lobby and reception which is almost 100 meeters away from the explosion site was totally destroyed and a 20 feet deep and 100 feed wide crater has been left at the explosion site.
Timing When the bomb blast occurred an Iftaar party was going inside the hotel and many dignitaries including some Americans were inside the hotel. It must be noted that the hotel is located in the high security zone. Security is always kept tight as it is mostly visited by foreigner dignitaries. The explosion happened after some hours of President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden address to the Parliament in which he had promised to root the terrorism and extremism. When the explosion came President, Prime Minister and other important Pakistani leaders and Generals were attending a party that was very near to the explosion site.
Impact At least 60 persons were killed and more than 200 have been reported to be injured in the explosion. After the explosion, hotel building had caught fire which turned it into an inferno. Many people died while they jumped form the six-storey building to save them selves from the fire. Investigating agencies have suspected the Al-Qaida hand behind the bomb attack. Ever since Pakistan’s initiation o f military action against the Taliban militants hiding in the NWFP, incidents of suicide bomb attacks have increase inside Pakistan. Almost 1000 people have been killed in less than six months in such incidents.
War Pakistan is reaping what is has sown. Its successive governments fueled militancy in India and Afghanistan but it also provided a ground for the Islamic fundamentalists’ backed Taliban to grow inside Pakistan. Now its own brainchild, Taliban have become the biggest threat to the world and for Pakistan. Coalition forced have started the attacks inside Pakistani territory in pursuit of Taliban militants. In such circumstances it becomes necessary for the Pakistani government to wage a war against the terrorists who have become the biggest threat to its unity. But this war will not end with the military action. It will take years to wipe out the influence of the fundamentalists from the society and prevent their resurgence.
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