Initial investigation and intelligence reports regarding the Safoora Goth bus attack carrying members of Ismaili community have hinted at the involvement of India’s intelligence agency RAW in the brutal attack. The attack left at least 45 people dead with more than a dozen injured. According to reports the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has been told the attackers targeted the members of Ismaili community which belong to the Gilgit-Baltistan region, the region is the main artery of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to details despite the pamphlets found from the attack site in which Daesh claimed responsibility of attack the organization has no presence in Karachi and if anything the evidence points towards the involvement of RAW.
The timing of the attack is very crucial the attack happened at a time when Pakistan is on a revival path, just a few months ago Saudi Arabia asked Pakistan to assist in the operation against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have also improved dramatically in recent months and both countries have decided to work together to exterminate terrorists. In the recent visit of Chinese President to Pakistan both countries signed MOUs worth $46 billion, the majority of the investment will go towards the vital China Pakistan Economic Corridor, that is expected to propel Pakistan towards an era of economic growth, the Gwadar port is also high on agenda. After the singing of agreements between China and Pakistan, Pakistan’s eastern neighbour wasn’t pleased at such massive investment. India and Iran have signed MOU’s to develop the Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, not far from Gwadar. The move is seen as a way to counter the growing importance of Gwadar by India.
Pakistan Army is quite clear on who has interest in destabilising Pakistan, it’s time that the political leadership follows suit and name those responsible.