Bloodbath in Jamrud

The suicide bombing at a Friday congregation in Khyber Agency's Jamrud district left at least 47 people dead and more than 80 injured - the death toll since has climbed with some of the victims succumbing to their injuries in the hospital. A similar terrorist strike, also during Friday prayers, had caused at least 50 deaths in Jamrud back in March 2009.
The incident is a horrific example of the merciless vengeance with which violent extremists strike terror in the populace's hearts. It also shows what Pakistan is up against. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the atrocity in "strongest terms", saying he "is appalled at this deliberate attack at a place of worship during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan, and the reported use of a teenager to perpetrate the attack." The bloody incident, yet again proves violent extremists and their apologists using religion to advance their agendas, have no respect for the religion or its followers.
In most previous terrorist strikes in mosques, those saying prayers included members of the security forces. Not in this case, reports say neither security personnel nor any other prominent person came to the Jamrud mosque; ordinary people, mostly poor residents of the area, offer prayers there. The bombing was a plain act of mindless violence. Notably, no one has claimed responsibility for the mayhem, but the finger is pointed in the direction of the so-called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Reports point out that the mosque is located in an area inhabited by Kokikhel tribesmen, who are opposed to the TTP, in particular, the Tariq Afridi group active in the Tirah Valley. The Afridi militants have their rivals within the TTP. A while ago, self-appointed commander Javed of the Khitab Gul group had fired rockets at two vehicles carrying militants of the Tariq Afridi group in the Tarkhokas area of the Tirah Valley, killing eight men and injuring two others. A few days prior to that incident, the Khitab people had targeted a Tariq group vehicle with a roadside bomb in another part of the Tirah Valley, claiming four militants' lives. Earlier last month, Khitab Gul along with five militants, was gunned down by Afridi's men.
So the militants are fighting between themselves and anyone who does not want to have them around. Most of those suffering at the hands of these violent men are ordinary people going about their daily chores, like the victims at the Jamrud mosque. It is generally argued that peace will return to our restive tribal areas once the Americans leave Afghanistan. Given that much of the violent extremism in the tribal areas is linked to the Afghan war blow-back, some of it will subside once Afghanistan problem is resolved. But if history is any guide, most others will continue to rely on the power of the gun to get their way. Hence, irrespective of what happens in Afghanistan, the government must use all available means, military and negotiations, to put an end to the violent militancy challenging the writ of the state and killing innocent citizens mercilessly.