Sunday, September 03, 2006
Pakistani and Indian pilgrims killed
Security
Fourteen Pakistani and Indian pilgrims have been ambushed and killed on their way to Iraq's Shia holy city of Karbala, Iraqi officials say. The pilgrims were pulled off a bus they were travelling on and seperated from other passengers. An official from the morgue in Karbala said the pilgrims bore marks of torture. It is not clear what the motive was, however, many Shia pilgrims have been killed in the last few months. The ambush took place at a service station in the desrt about 160 km (100 miles) west of Ramadi, which has alledgedly been the scene of many killings. Pakistan has condemned the attack, and urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Iraq.
COMMENT: It is likely that this attack could be one of the reasons behind Sistani's meeting with al-Maliki on security. The murder of these foreign Shia pilgrims is likely to result in outrage among Shias in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and India and may result in reprisal attacks on Sunnis. COMMENT ENDS.
