The blatant attack on Peshawar Airport followed by the Taliban claiming responsibility is not new. We have seen this scene play many times before; the GHQ in Rawalpindi, Mehran Base in Karachi, Kamra Complex near Taxila and now the airport in Peshawar. We congratulate the Pakistani security forces who successfully repelled the attack and killed the attackers. It is unfortunate that some are implying that because of a bizarre tattoo on one of the dead terrorist, he may be an implant from the West or a U.S Marine. Why would the Taliban allow someone like him to join their organization? How would this person keep such a large body tattoo hidden? We all know that the Pakistani authorities have identified some of the attackers as Uzbeks. So there is a strong possibility that he could be one of them. Why couldn’t he get his tattoo in Russia where they are very popular? Is it not easy for a person who lives in the Central Republics to travel to Russia?
Conspiracy theories do not have a beginning or an ending; we can keep them going as long as we want. The fact is that the Taliban are our common enemy. They have attacked and killed many of our soldiers and civilians on both sides of the border. We have said this before and we say this again, that a strong and stable Pakistan is in everyone’s interest. It is a very important country in the region, and its prosperity and stability affects the regional partners as well. The region has suffered enough due to the terrorists who have made Pakistan their base. They need to be eliminated, and we fully stand by Pakistan and its security forces when they defend their people and their nation against these evil forces.
Abdul Quddus
DET-United States Central Command
U.S. Central Command