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Islamabad resembles battle zone

Islamabad

Agitated commuters queue up every morning rush hour on Islamabad’s wide avenues, their cars snaking back from security checkposts manned by heavily-armed police and paramilitary forces. 

Pakistan’s capital of manicured lawns, stately houses and imposing government buildings is increasingly resembling a war zone as the Taliban take their battle to the cities, with a wave of devastating attacks in recent weeks.

Blast walls have swallowed UN buildings, embassies and ambassadors’ homes. 

To enter the Serena Hotel, one of Islamabad’s two five-star hotels, visitors must navigate four security barriers manned by jittery guards. 

Dozens of new police checkposts have been set up on Islamabad’s main highways and streets inside the city after authorities issued orders to beef up security, taking it to unprecedented levels, residents say. 

“We can’t cross even a street to the other side without going through stiff checks,” complained Hassan Khan, a local businessman.

The capital is about 250 kilometres (155 miles) southeast of Swat valley, where the army is locked in a seven-week offensive against the Taliban, enraging militants who have carried out a series of revenge attacks.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan movement led by feared warlord Baitullah Mehsud has threatened more strikes on key installations in Pakistan’s urban centres, putting everyone on edge.

Clad in a bullet-proof jacket and finger on the trigger of his submachine gun, elite commando police constable Sajid Abbas eyes every passing vehicle.

“This is our duty to safeguard this homeland from the terrorists and we are proud to serve our nation,” said a bullish Abbas, wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the logo ‘No Fear’ on the back.

About 134 people have been killed in suicide attacks and bombings in the capital since government forces fought gunmen holed up in the radical Islamabad Red Mosque in July 2007. Nationwide, 1,995 people have been killed in attacks.

Past targets have included Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel, the Danish embassy, an Italian restaurant and police checkposts and buildings.

In the latest attack in the capital, a suicide bomber walked up to a police building on June 6 in a residential district home to many government officials and detonated explosives strapped to his body, killing two policemen.

Pakistani police on Wednesday arrested three men suspected of planning a suicide attack near Islamabad and seized explosives and suicide jackets, while four other suspects have been held in the capital in the past three weeks.

Now, vehicles have to crawl through concrete barriers manned by up to seven policemen — some hunkered down behind sandbags — as security forces peer into the cars, waving some through but pulling other nervous drivers over.

“We are keeping an eye on every vehicle with thorough checking of suspected persons,” said Sub Inspector Muhammad Siddique, stationed on the Islamabad Highway, one of the main entry points from adjacent Rawalpindi city.

Tahir Alam, senior superintendent of Islamabad police, said that there were now 70 security checkposts throughout the capital.

But some worry about the increasingly sophisticated tactics of the militants, who have recently been able to penetrate past tough security and cause massive devastation to high-profile targets.

On June 9, three militants shot their way past the security barriers at the five-star Pearl Continental hotel in the northwestern city of Peshawar, ramming a explosives-packed truck into the building, killing nine people.

“The terrorists come suddenly and attack with modern ammunition, which we lack. This is our weak point,” said Zia, a policeman stationed on the Kashmir Highway, glancing nervously around him.

“I heard our government has imported new bullet-proof jackets, but I don’t know when I will get one.”