Dhaka asks Islamabad to ensure security
Banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has threatened to attack Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad in retaliation for execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah, reports a Pakistani newspaper. The Nation, a leading Pakistani daily, released the news Thursday. Although security around Bangladesh foreign mission in Pakistan has been enhanced manifold and the fresh security directions issued to High Commissioner of Bangladesh, law enforcement agencies still fear a terrorist attack on Bangladesh mission, said the report.
According to well-placed sources, law enforcement agencies have submitted a report to interior ministry quoting a security agency that Taliban have expressed annoyance with the Bangladesh government over the killing of Mollah and could attack the Bangladesh High Commission. The unnamed security agency officials had called for preventive measures in the wake of the threats, the newspaper reported.
Bangladesh High Commission is located in the residential area of F-6/3, considered one of the most posh areas of Islamabad.
A senior official of law enforcement agency told The Nation that they have chalked out an elaborate plan for safeguarding Bangladesh mission and enhancing security of major embassies in the federal capital.
“We have also deployed police commandoes at these sensitive places to avoid any untoward incident during Christmas holidays while patrolling has been enhanced around them,” the paper said quoting security officials.
Jamaat leader Quader Mollah was executed in Dhaka on 12 December for committing crimes against humanity during the war of liberation in 1971.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has taken the Taliban threat against its high commission seriously and asked Pakistan to ensure security of its high commission in Islamabad and consulate in Karachi.
“We came to know about the Taliban threat through a Pakistani newspaper. No threat was made over the telephone.
Taking the threat seriously, we have taken up the issue with the Pakistan Foreign Ministry. The authorities in Islamabad are aware of the threat,” a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told The Independent on Thursday evening.
“Islamabad assured us of ensuring security for our high commission as well as the consulate and the security has been beefed up,” he said, “We are in constant touch with Islamabad in this regard.”
The official also said that following the demonstration near the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, Islamabad had also asked Bangladesh Foreign Ministry to ensure security of its mission.
“We have told them that the security issue will be looked after. Accordingly, security for the high commission has already been enhanced,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladesh, in reaction Pakistan’s remarks on Mollah’s execution, made it clear that it did not like any interference in its domestic affairs.
Dhaka has lodged a strong protest to Islamabad against the resolutions adopted by Pakistan National Assembly and Punjab Provincial Assembly as well as remarks by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on the execution of the Jamaat leader.
The protest was lodged on Tuesday evening after summoning Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi to the Foreign Ministry.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly condemned the Pakistan National Assembly’s resolution expressing concern over the execution of Mollah.
-With The Independent input
