Pakistan Hunts Militants After Deadly Attack

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 6:07 pm under Pakistan News

LAHORE: Pakistan stepped up a manhunt on Wednesday for the armed militants behind a deadly ambush targeting Sri Lankan cricket team, which has plunged the nation deeper into crisis.

As Sri Lanka’s wounded and shaken players returned back to Colombo, Pakistan forces scoured this cosmopolitan eastern city for up to 12 attackers after the brazen attack that left eight dead and wounded eight of the touring party.

New Zealand said it was cancelling its upcoming tour of Pakistan, deepening the country’s isolation after the International Cricket Council (ICC) cast doubt over its suitability as co-host of the 2011 World Cup.

The militants, who appeared young and well-trained, attacked the Sri Lankan convoy with rockets, grenades and automatic weapons on Tuesday, before fleeing in stolen cars.

Six policemen guarding the team and two civilians were killed. The officials said five people were being interrogated, but there was no immediate public announcement of any leads.

There has been no claim of responsibility, but attention has focused onmilitants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The attack also comes with Sri Lanka in a fierce civil conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels.

It was the first deadly direct assault against a sports team in Pakistan, where over 1,600 people have died in a wave of attacks in 22 months.

Pakistani officials said the attack bore the hallmarks of the November 2008 assault on the Indian city of Mumbai, which was blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

New Zealand cricket chief Justin Vaughan said a tour set for November had been cancelled.

“We’re not going and I think that’s pretty clear,” Vaughan told New Zealand radio.

The ICC warned that Pakistan could not host international cricket unless it improved security, raising doubts about the 2011 World Cup — due to be co-hosted with Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.

“It’s difficult to … see international cricket being played in Pakistan for the foreseeable future,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told a news conference in London.