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| Gunmen kill seven Pakistani aid workers | Gunmen kill seven Pakistani aid workers |
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| Gunmen have killed six Pakistani female aid workers and a male doctor in what appears to be the latest attack by Islamic militants on teams involved in public health campaigns. | Gunmen have killed six Pakistani female aid workers and a male doctor in what appears to be the latest attack by Islamic militants on teams involved in public health campaigns. |
| Recent days have been violent in the troubled country, with dozens dying in a string of terrorist attacks. Analysts blame many of the strikes on militant groups keen to demonstrate their ability to cause casualties and destruction after the government rejected the Taliban's call for ceasefire negotiations late last month. | Recent days have been violent in the troubled country, with dozens dying in a string of terrorist attacks. Analysts blame many of the strikes on militant groups keen to demonstrate their ability to cause casualties and destruction after the government rejected the Taliban's call for ceasefire negotiations late last month. |
| "They are signalling to the people that the pain they are suffering is in fact the government's fault because their offer of peace was rejected," said Ejaz Haider, an analyst at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. "There is likely to be more violence as they ramp up their campaign in coming weeks." | "They are signalling to the people that the pain they are suffering is in fact the government's fault because their offer of peace was rejected," said Ejaz Haider, an analyst at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. "There is likely to be more violence as they ramp up their campaign in coming weeks." |
| The militants have been stung by a loss of public support after indiscriminate attacks last year, a lack of economic development in the areas where they are strong, deals concluded by the authorities with some leading local extremist commanders, and ongoing strikes by US drones. | The militants have been stung by a loss of public support after indiscriminate attacks last year, a lack of economic development in the areas where they are strong, deals concluded by the authorities with some leading local extremist commanders, and ongoing strikes by US drones. |
| Tuesday's attack came in Swabi district, about 45 miles (75km) north-west of Islamabad, and was the first attack on aid workers in the area. | Tuesday's attack came in Swabi district, about 45 miles (75km) north-west of Islamabad, and was the first attack on aid workers in the area. |
| In the southern port city of Karachi, a bomb exploded near the headquarters of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), a political party in the city, killing at least one person and injuring dozens of others. The city has been the site of a growing number of gunfights, bombings and assassinations in recent months as ethnic, sectarian and political factions, as well as criminal gangs, struggle for power and influence. Leaders of militant religious groups have threatened to target the MQM, which has spoken out against extremism. | In the southern port city of Karachi, a bomb exploded near the headquarters of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), a political party in the city, killing at least one person and injuring dozens of others. The city has been the site of a growing number of gunfights, bombings and assassinations in recent months as ethnic, sectarian and political factions, as well as criminal gangs, struggle for power and influence. Leaders of militant religious groups have threatened to target the MQM, which has spoken out against extremism. |
| The coalition of factions known as the Pakistani Taliban is mainly based in the north-west of the country but also has a presence in Karachi. It has repeatedly threatened health workers with violence, claiming immunisation campaigns are part of western plots to spy, make Muslims infertile or otherwise harm the community. | The coalition of factions known as the Pakistani Taliban is mainly based in the north-west of the country but also has a presence in Karachi. It has repeatedly threatened health workers with violence, claiming immunisation campaigns are part of western plots to spy, make Muslims infertile or otherwise harm the community. |
| A more mundane reason for the threats is that the presence of non-governmental organisations threatens the extremists' authority in areas which they are finding increasingly difficult to control simply through violence. | A more mundane reason for the threats is that the presence of non-governmental organisations threatens the extremists' authority in areas which they are finding increasingly difficult to control simply through violence. |
| Two weeks ago workers vaccinating children against polio were targeted in a string of attacks in Karachi, as well as in restive areas on the Afghan border. Nine people, mostly young women, were killed. | Two weeks ago workers vaccinating children against polio were targeted in a string of attacks in Karachi, as well as in restive areas on the Afghan border. Nine people, mostly young women, were killed. |
| The workers who died on Tuesday were employed by Support with Working Solutions, which ran a school and dispensary in Swabi and helped vaccinate children against polio. The head of the agency, Javed Akhtar, said: "This seemed to be part of the campaign against the polio drive by certain anti-polio elements." | The workers who died on Tuesday were employed by Support with Working Solutions, which ran a school and dispensary in Swabi and helped vaccinate children against polio. The head of the agency, Javed Akhtar, said: "This seemed to be part of the campaign against the polio drive by certain anti-polio elements." |
| The ongoing violence in Pakistan has regional implications. One possible reason for Pakistan's release of several high-ranking figures in the Afghan Taliban in recent months – eight were reported to have been released on Sunday, bringing the total to more than 20 – is that policymakers and strategists are increasingly convinced that the instability in the west of the country is linked to ongoing conflict in the neighbouring state, and that a resolution for both requires a better relationship with Kabul. | The ongoing violence in Pakistan has regional implications. One possible reason for Pakistan's release of several high-ranking figures in the Afghan Taliban in recent months – eight were reported to have been released on Sunday, bringing the total to more than 20 – is that policymakers and strategists are increasingly convinced that the instability in the west of the country is linked to ongoing conflict in the neighbouring state, and that a resolution for both requires a better relationship with Kabul. |
| "There has been a genuine Pakistani policy to reach out to Afghanistan for nearly a year now," said Haider. "The aim is zero conflict in the region." | "There has been a genuine Pakistani policy to reach out to Afghanistan for nearly a year now," said Haider. "The aim is zero conflict in the region." |
| Pakistan has long been accused of playing a double game: backing elements within the Taliban who are felt to be useful proxies in the continuing struggle for power in Afghanistan, while playing the role of a Washington ally. Mullah Mohammed Omar, the reclusive supreme leader of the Taliban, is thought to have been based in Pakistan since fleeing Afghanistan when his regime collapsed in December 2001. | Pakistan has long been accused of playing a double game: backing elements within the Taliban who are felt to be useful proxies in the continuing struggle for power in Afghanistan, while playing the role of a Washington ally. Mullah Mohammed Omar, the reclusive supreme leader of the Taliban, is thought to have been based in Pakistan since fleeing Afghanistan when his regime collapsed in December 2001. |
| However, some analysts are convinced that Pakistani policy has shifted. | However, some analysts are convinced that Pakistani policy has shifted. |
| Those released at the weekend included Mullah Nooruddin Turabi who became infamous as the head of the Taliban's justice ministry when the Islamist militia were in power in Kabul between 1996 and 2001. | Those released at the weekend included Mullah Nooruddin Turabi who became infamous as the head of the Taliban's justice ministry when the Islamist militia were in power in Kabul between 1996 and 2001. |
| The release of the Taliban figures has been a key demand to the Pakistani government by Afghan negotiators. It is hoped they can act as intermediaries between the Afghan government and those Taliban commanders who are still fighting international troops in Afghanistan. Western combat troops are due to have withdrawn from the country by the end of 2014. | The release of the Taliban figures has been a key demand to the Pakistani government by Afghan negotiators. It is hoped they can act as intermediaries between the Afghan government and those Taliban commanders who are still fighting international troops in Afghanistan. Western combat troops are due to have withdrawn from the country by the end of 2014. |
| In recent weeks the nascent peace process in Afghanistan, which had looked to be languishing, has found a new momentum. Representatives of the Taliban recently travelled to France to attend a roundtable discussion organised by a thinktank at which representatives of the Afghan government were present. Islamabad appears to have supported the initiative. | In recent weeks the nascent peace process in Afghanistan, which had looked to be languishing, has found a new momentum. Representatives of the Taliban recently travelled to France to attend a roundtable discussion organised by a thinktank at which representatives of the Afghan government were present. Islamabad appears to have supported the initiative. |
| "It doesn't matter why the Pakistanis have evolved their position. The point is things look like they are moving again now, which is hopeful," said one European diplomat based in Islamabad, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But these things have a habit of hitting speed bumps just when they get going." | "It doesn't matter why the Pakistanis have evolved their position. The point is things look like they are moving again now, which is hopeful," said one European diplomat based in Islamabad, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But these things have a habit of hitting speed bumps just when they get going." |
| The diplomat said a real "game-changer" would be the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Barader, Omar's deputy, who is seen as one of the few individuals with both the credibility and the inclination to engage in serious negotiations. | The diplomat said a real "game-changer" would be the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Barader, Omar's deputy, who is seen as one of the few individuals with both the credibility and the inclination to engage in serious negotiations. |
| • This article was amended on 2 January 2013. The original said Ejaz Haider was from the Jinnah Institute. He is now with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. | • This article was amended on 2 January 2013. The original said Ejaz Haider was from the Jinnah Institute. He is now with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. |
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