The families of students attending the Army Public School and Degree College in Peshawar, Pakistan, have been devastated by an attack on the facility earlier today, Dec. 16. Members of the Pakistani Taliban scaled the school's walls this morning and, once inside, their orders were to kill rather than take hostages. The hours-long battle left more than 130 dead so far, with the majority being children. Nine teachers at the school were also killed, some by being set on fire in front of their students. Sources say this suicide mission was carried out by at least seven militants and revenge was the motivation.
The siege at the school and purposeful taking of innocent lives is said to be revenge for the killing of hundreds of innocent tribesmen and their children during a recent offensive by the Pakistani military. Two brazen attacks near Pakistan's largest airport in Karachi in June brought tentative peace talks to a screeching halt. Pakistan's military has since opted to shift its focus toward clearing out militants in tribal areas of northwestern Pakistan that do not have a strong government presence in place. Tens of thousands of people have reportedly been displaced, adding to the already existing strained tensions between the two.
Needless to say, today's attack on the school is only going to do more damage in terms of both sides even trying to find a peaceful resolution. As of now, members of Pakistan's military are reportedly still at the school searching for more victims or potential survivors who might be hiding. The Pakistani Taliban also reportedly left behind various homemade explosives that need to be dismantled before the complex can be declared safe and stable again.
Do you think the Pakistani military will now look to exact revenge upon the Taliban for the massacre of children today? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
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