Terror Torments Pakistan as Domestic Groups Go International

For Pakistan, any celebration over the counter-terrorism successes of the last week has been extremely short-lived. Shortly after American and British officials lauded Pakistan's efforts to thwart the plot to blow up U.S.-bound planes, the focus of ongoing global investigations turned inexorably towards the South Asian nation. This focus is driven by overwhelming evidence that the country remains a hub of terrorist activity and is attracting followers from around the world.

As news of arrests in Great Britain and Pakistan broke, Pakistani officials did their best to emphasize an Afghanistan-based Al Qaeda connection but admitted that the majority of the 17 arrested were Pakistani citizens likely providing logistics and operational support to British plotters. Three of Pakistan's domestic groups Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Lashkar-i-Taiba, fell under suspicion as Pakistani security forces began interrogations of arrested suspects.

The implication of last week's events surprised few observers.