355: Terrorism’s most devastating blow in Pakistan
Shahid Javed Burki, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, ISAS
23 December 2014
On 16 December 2014, the Taliban attacked an army school in Peshawar and killed 132 children.
In all 145 persons died. Seven terrorists - among them three Arabs, two Afghans and one
Chechen - dressed in military uniform penetrated the well-guarded perimeter of the school and
opened fire on the students and school personnel. By assembling an international force, the
Taliban sent a powerful signal that their campaign against the Pakistani state and the country's
military had wide support. According to a statement issued to the press by Muhammad
Khorasani, the Taliban spokesman, the attackers were ordered to kill only those children who
were from army families. "Our shura decided to target these enemies of Islam right in their
homes so they can feel the pain of losing their children."