Pak must not capitulate to destructive extremism

London, Mar.4 (ANI): The best international response to Tuesday's attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore is a firm message of support for the moderate forces in Pakistani society, says an analysis in The Independent.

According to the paper, it should reflect a determination to encourage the spread of democracy and law into every corner of Pakistan, adding that the forces of moderation in the country need international support

The paper further goes on to say that Tuesday's firing on cricketers could so easily have been the worst sporting atrocity since the 1972 Munich Olympics.

"The fact that yesterday's military-style ambush of the Sri Lankan cricket team did not lead to greater loss of life seems attributable to the quick thinking of their bus driver and sheer good fortune," it says.

But it also says that as an act designed to spread terror, the attack will surely be effective enough to satisfy those who ordered it.

"There will be no international sporting fixtures in Pakistan for the foreseeable future. The attack might even result in teams staying away from the wider South Asian region," the analysis in the paper says.

"The ramifications of this attack go far beyond sport. It is another sign of the extreme instability of the Pakistani state," it adds.

It concludes by saying that there are few signs of progress in Islamabad's struggle to defeat militants in Pakistan.

The outside world has been stepping up pressure on Islamabad to weed out those elements in its intelligence services that still protect insurgent "clients".

This is necessary, but not without risks.(ANI)