Pak. “unable” or “unwilling” to halt attacks: HRW

An international human rights organization has criticized the Pakistani government in regard to mounting terrorist attacks in the country, saying the government cannot or do not want to stop such attacks.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its World Report 2014 on Tuesday that the government is either “unable” or “unwilling” to stop militant groups, including the Tehreek –i-Taliban (TTP), who are acting with “virtual impunity” in the country.

“The militant groups such as the ostensibly banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), a Taliban affiliate, operate with virtual impunity across Pakistan as law enforcement officials either turn a blind eye or appear helpless to prevent attacks,” the HRW said in its report.

The report comes as the militants have intensified their deadly attacks on Pakistani civilians, especially the Shias.

According to the reports, the militants have already conducted 25 major terrorist attacks in the first 20 days of 2014.

“Taliban attacks, amounting to war crimes, have increased in scope and magnitude,” HRW’s country director for Pakistan Ali Dayan Hasan admitted.

The HRW reports added that a number of governmental personnel and installations have come under fierce Taliban attacks during previous years.

It went on to explain that in 2012 and 2013, at least 22 polio workers were killed and 14 wounded in attacks carried out by Taliban, who has ordered a ban on polio vaccination campaigns, arguing that they could be a cover-up for US espionage activities.

Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US on the so-called war against terrorism.