Two suicide bombers struck the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore, Pakistan, on Thursday. Wiki says Thursday is a popular night at the shrine. Reports say at least 41 people were killed, and some 200 wounded.
Various Pakistani and other interests are reacting in various ways.
The Game Pakistan Plays
Repress open political opposition and parties. Drive the opposition to underground militancy. Use the existence of the militancy to justify the state repression.
Fund and support the militancy. Use the existence of the militancy to justify the state repression.
Conduct this subterfuge slightly more underground, should the U.S. come mucking about.
Reap whirlwind benefits about India, and pull Afghanistan into the mess.
The Game the Democratic Administration Plays
Don't change anything about our relations with Pakistan, or how we conduct the war in Afghanistan.
Republicans might blame us for 9/11.
The Latest Development
The suicide bombings have fueled anger against Pakistan's weak police forces, who appear helpless to stop the killings. In the hours after Thursday's bombings, demonstrators gathered outside the shrine to protest the security lapse, only to be dispersed after police fired into the air and threw rocks at them.
Dawn
Angry guys are throwing rocks at the police, wanting the police to crack down more. Probably an effective method. Suits the Pakistan game.
Unraveling One Official Response
Those who still pretend that we are not a nation at war are complicit in these deaths,'' said Farahnaz Ispahani, a spokeswoman for Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
Dawn
Here are spokesperson Farahnaz Ispahani, and her husband:
Here is the spokesperson's husband's diplomatic residence, in Washington D.C. He is the Ambassador there.
Here is the President the spokesperson flacks for (Wikipedia cropped the photo from here):
Here is the-President-the-spokesperson-flacks-for's assassinated wife:
This small bit of unraveling of one quoted person by way of saying: Watch out for political parties and other interests here. There is definitely some dueling in the following links.
News and Opinion Roundup about the Shrine Attack
24 France. Sufism and sectarian factors.
AFP. Pakistan Prime Minister visits the shrine. Strikes protesting attack and wanting stronger government action.
BBC. The sectarian violence has escaped beyond the control of its Pakistani intelligence service masters. (Not exactly the spin BBC puts on it.)
BBC. Photos.
Daily Times. Punjab Governor blames Punjab Chief Minister.
Dawn. Tehrik-i-Taliban disclaimer of responsibility.
Dawn. Punjab Chief Minister says culprits will be found.
Dawn. Punjab Chief Minister says culprit networks will soon be broken. And that he does not like the Interior Minister.
Dawn. The attackers are local. But go massive. Sweep it all up. Things related and not. With a bonus "data" pun.
DNA India. The protests.
etribune. Youtube news story about the squabbling politicians. From God knows who.
Findtut. The attack is of a secretion nature.
Guardian. Don't accommodate jihadis. With some byzantineness. Or byzianity. Or byzanitude. Or something.
Hindustan Times. Statement of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference: attackers are enemies of Islam.
al-Jazeera English. Youtube of news story.
The Nation of Pakistan. The Pakistan Muslim League chief postures.
The News. Punjab Chief Minister postures better. Don't mean to single anyone out about it.
New York Times. The attack on the shrine. Some background on Sufism.
NPR. Bland note that some Pakistanis blame the U.S.
oneindia. Punjab police are clueless and blind.
oneindia. Punjab Chief Minister admits existence of extremist groups. Go massive. Sweep it all up. Things related and not. No bonus "data" pun.
Pakistan Times. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issues a statement.
Radio Free Europe. Short note of protests and calls for stronger government action.
Reuters. Lahore shut down, and protests.
Reuters. Coverage of the attack. The best the Washington Post can do.
Telegraph. A Tory named Con spins a conceit: Pakistan is the new Iraq.
Sify. EU issues bland statement.
Times of India. Short statement that Pakistan government was asleep at the wheel.
Times of India. Eight killed in an other attack, in Karachi.