Pakistan, 30 metric tons explosives used in Bombings during last 4 years
Salman Shahzad
PESHAWAR: According to data obtained from officials of Bomb Disposal Unit, during last four year nearly 30,000kg explosive materials have been used in terror related incidents by militants in different cities and towns of war-torn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KP), the northern part of the country resulting in massive destruction and killing of innocent civilians as well security personnel.
"In considering the use of high explosives for destructive purposes, the first requirement is to using the most effective explosive available.
Three types of explosives have been used by terrorists so far: High-order explosive (high quality), Chemical explosive and Mechanical explosive (low quality). But the data proved that militants used high quality explosives in nearly 80 percent terror attacks while low quality explosives were used in 20 percent terror related incidents," an official of BDU told the Lead Pakistan on the condition of anonymity.
He further said that military explosive is the technical term used by them for high explosives as this type of quality is used by militaries of different countries in regular war and in covert operation.
He said: "The military type of explosive is easily available to the terrorists, because Pakistan has many foes instead of friends. During investigation we found that many particles of the bomb contained military explosives used by Indian, Russian and US militaries.
High explosives can be initiated in several manners. A detonation releases a great amount of energy in a very short period of time, therefore the reason salutes are much louder and have a "sharper"(caused by the shock wave) boom."
According to a rough estimate of BDU of KP chapter more than 11,000 kg explosives were used in the provincial capital (Peshawar) during 2007-11.
Meena Bazaar blast which took place on October 28, 2009 was the bloodiest blast in the history of KP in which 500-700 kg of high quality explosive was used.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Bomb Disposal Unit, Shafqat Malik told Lead Pakistan that BDU had defused nearly 7 tons explosives in various districts of KP-laden in vehicles.
"We have defused five explosives laden vehicles in provincial capital besides one each in Bannu and Swat districts," he said, adding that each vehicle carried 1000kg high quality explosives. Commenting on the easy availability of explosives, he said the contractors having licenses to purchase, make, sell or use explosives for mining purpose or related matters should be checked strictly and regularly to avoid untoward incidents in the near future.
Chemicals used in match factories are often used as improvised explosives in terror attacks.
"Terrorists are exploiting the unchecked sale of explosive materials/chemicals and are using the same in terror attacks, as we have evidence about it," he explained.
It is worth mentioning here that recently intelligence agencies arrested a contractor who was selling explosives material to anti-state elements-using his licence to make more money and satisfy his greed. An expert of BDU, wishing anonymity, said that he witnessed a visible difference in the strategy adopted by suicide bombers in Punjab and KP provinces as in the former case terrorists used to wear explosive-belt strapped around their waist, while in the latter saboteurs would carry out their suicide mission by wearing an explosive filled jacket.
Replying to a query he said the belt contained 3-6 kg high quality explosives while the jacket 8kg (average). "The jacket can support 6-12kg explosives. When we talk about a jacket containing 8 kg explosives it means that overall weight of the jacket is that; including explosive chemicals, ball bearings, blades and nails," he explained.
PESHAWAR: According to data obtained from officials of Bomb Disposal Unit, during last four year nearly 30,000kg explosive materials have been used in terror related incidents by militants in different cities and towns of war-torn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KP), the northern part of the country resulting in massive destruction and killing of innocent civilians as well security personnel.
"In considering the use of high explosives for destructive purposes, the first requirement is to using the most effective explosive available.
Three types of explosives have been used by terrorists so far: High-order explosive (high quality), Chemical explosive and Mechanical explosive (low quality). But the data proved that militants used high quality explosives in nearly 80 percent terror attacks while low quality explosives were used in 20 percent terror related incidents," an official of BDU told the Lead Pakistan on the condition of anonymity.
He further said that military explosive is the technical term used by them for high explosives as this type of quality is used by militaries of different countries in regular war and in covert operation.
He said: "The military type of explosive is easily available to the terrorists, because Pakistan has many foes instead of friends. During investigation we found that many particles of the bomb contained military explosives used by Indian, Russian and US militaries.
High explosives can be initiated in several manners. A detonation releases a great amount of energy in a very short period of time, therefore the reason salutes are much louder and have a "sharper"(caused by the shock wave) boom."
According to a rough estimate of BDU of KP chapter more than 11,000 kg explosives were used in the provincial capital (Peshawar) during 2007-11.
Meena Bazaar blast which took place on October 28, 2009 was the bloodiest blast in the history of KP in which 500-700 kg of high quality explosive was used.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Bomb Disposal Unit, Shafqat Malik told Lead Pakistan that BDU had defused nearly 7 tons explosives in various districts of KP-laden in vehicles.
"We have defused five explosives laden vehicles in provincial capital besides one each in Bannu and Swat districts," he said, adding that each vehicle carried 1000kg high quality explosives. Commenting on the easy availability of explosives, he said the contractors having licenses to purchase, make, sell or use explosives for mining purpose or related matters should be checked strictly and regularly to avoid untoward incidents in the near future.
Chemicals used in match factories are often used as improvised explosives in terror attacks.
"Terrorists are exploiting the unchecked sale of explosive materials/chemicals and are using the same in terror attacks, as we have evidence about it," he explained.
It is worth mentioning here that recently intelligence agencies arrested a contractor who was selling explosives material to anti-state elements-using his licence to make more money and satisfy his greed. An expert of BDU, wishing anonymity, said that he witnessed a visible difference in the strategy adopted by suicide bombers in Punjab and KP provinces as in the former case terrorists used to wear explosive-belt strapped around their waist, while in the latter saboteurs would carry out their suicide mission by wearing an explosive filled jacket.
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