LAHORE As the level of killings, targeted assassinations, burning, and battering has surged to an alarming level in the economic hub of the country, defense experts say that foreign sponsored terrorists have opened a new front in Karachi in a deliberate attempt to engage the security forces in street battles. As a matter of fact, sources say, foreign agencies have succeeded in creating and exploiting the ethnic and linguistic division in Karachi. Now the situation has so deteriorated that the leaders of ANP and MQM have requested to Pak Army and Rangers for intervention in order to save the lives of people. Nevertheless, they say, the pressure is mounting on the government to take some kind of actions. In this context, search operations should be conducted in phases with an aim to cut off the supply chain of illegal weapons to the City and root out culprits from the most affected areas, an intelligence official said, conditioning anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the sensitive issues. He also suggested that a comprehensive programme of de-weaponisation is essential to curb violence in Karachi. Political, ethnic and sectarian murders and assassinations in Karachi have surged to 318 only in the month of July, among them almost 100 only in and around the Orangi Town area. The first day of this month (August) alone saw at least 23 people gunned down and the Surjani Town continues to be a flash-point in the latest cycle of violence. Reports indicate that Pukhtuns led by Awami National Party (ANP) and Urdu-speaking people led by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) are fighting against each others. On July 26 this year, six people including the activists of Sindh Peoples Youth Organisation (SPYO) and those of the MQM were also killed. Recently, accusations and counter-accusations have continued between the leaders of the MQM and those of the ANP in particular and MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in general. Before the new reconciliation, some MQM leaders held the rulers of the PPP in Sindh and at center responsible for fuelling ethnic riots in Karachi. But on August 3, Prime Minister Gilani dispelled the impression that government wanted to create differences among various segments. A recent report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that 1,138 people have been killed in Karachi in the first half of 2011 some 490 people became victims of political, ethnic and sectarian violence. During the last few years, aside from gang warfare and criminals activities, violent riots and targeted killings have seen a steady increase with several high profile killings. Without naming US, India and Israel, on May 1, 2009, the prime minister revealed that he sees foreign hands behind Karachi violence. More than one million illegal small and heavy weapons contribute to the violence in Karachi. In this regard, on July 18, 2011, Interior Minister Rehman Malik openly stated that the miscreants were using Israel-made weapons for fomenting unrest in Karachi. He added, Over 200 persons have been arrested and Israeli-made weapons including AK-45 rifles have been recovered from them. He also disclosed the involvement of foreign hands behind Karachi violence. In the past too, a number of militants along with huge cache of arms and ammunition, made of US, India and Israel, have been caught. The secret agencies of these countries have recruited Pakistani nationals who are vulnerable and can work on their payroll, giving them high financial incentives to work for them. They have recruited smugglers, gangsters and, experts of the psychological warfare, to fulfill anti-Pakistan designs of America, India and Israel. Political and defence analysts agreed that terrorists who commit acts of sabotage in Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata are receiving training in terrorist camps, situated in India. All the state organs, political parties and regional leaders must give a matching response to malicious propaganda sponsored by foreign powers, which are leaving no stone unturned in distorting the image of Pakistan, its army and the ISI. They also need to play their role in establishing peace and security in the city of lights. Now when the security agencies are fully operative to eliminate the terrorists, the PPPP, MQM and ANP, the major stakeholders, in particular and the public and traders community in general, must join hands with the law enforcing agencies to bring peace in Karachi.