A rescue worker examines the site of the June 23 explosion in Lahore [File: KM Chaudary/AP}
The editor of Pakistan Geostrategic Review says the timing of the a deadly bombing in the eastern city of Lahore in Pakistan late last month was no coincidence.
Zaki Khalid was speaking to Radio Islam about the attack which Pakistan’s national security adviser Moeed Yusuf accused India of financing, planning and orchestrating.
The explosion took place on 23 June in the Johar Town area of Lahore, outside the residence of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba armed group who India accuses of being a “terrorist” and planner of militant attacks.
Khalid says the location and timing of the attack was an objective of what the “Indians” wanted, to send a message to Pakistan.
“The timing of the attack is important because it was just on the day when the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was supposed to give its decision on whether or not Pakistan would remain on the grey list of terrorism financing. The location also sends a message that they wanted Pakistani’s to know that perhaps such incidents are within their reach and they are keeping a very close eye on these developments.”
Khalid says the inspector general of Panjab police in Lahore working together with the interior ministry and other law enforcement agencies have sufficient evidence to prove that India was involved in the deadly bombing attack.
“They have found retrieved vehicles. They have found fake names, passports, identities, driving licences and some other information that have conclusively established that this entire operation was planned by someone based in India using assets within Pakistan.’
Khalid says that Hafiz Muhammad Saeed who is currently in custody was not at home at the time of the attack, adding that India was just trying to “flex its muscles” and show Pakistan what they are capable of.
Listen to the interview with Zaki Khalid
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