'I think now it will be a complete genocide of the non-Muslims'

Pakistani Christians were absorbing the news yesterday of the second attack on their institutions this week, as recognition sank in that they had become a new target in a wave of retaliatory militant attacks triggered by the American military campaign in Afghanistan.

Many Christian leaders now believe more attacks will follow. "We are paying the price of being Christians here and being allied with the west," said Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian leader who heads the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance. "I think now it will be a complete genocide of the non-Muslims here if the Islamic militant forces are not checked."

Pakistan's Islamist militants increasingly appear to associate even Pakistani Christians with the west and regard them as legitimate targets.

"It appears that a spate of attacks on Christian institutions is gaining momentum," said Samuel Azariah, the presiding Bishop of the Church of Pakistan.

Christians make up barely 3% of a predominantly Muslim population of 140 million. Most were converted under British colonial rule and many of their institutions in the country date back to before independence. The hospital in Taxila which was attacked yesterday was built in 1922.

Although Pakistan's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, envisaged in 1947 that his new country would be a religiously tolerant secular state, it quickly became clear that that would not be the case.

Father Roccus Patras, a Roman Catholic priest in Bahawalpur, saw 16 people killed in an attack on his church in October. Last month he had a chilling meeting with the five Islamist militants who carried out the attack.

"They told me they were very satisfied with what they had done and that it was the will of God to kill non-believers. They said we are allied to the Americans and Europeans because we are Christians," he said. "I asked them what they would do if I forgave them and the police let them free. They said they would come back to kill us again."

The militants told Father Patras that they were incensed by comments made by US President George Bush when he talked of a "crusade" against terrorism.

"Why are we being persecuted for his statement?" he said. "Our future is very dark and many people, me included, are now very frightened. We can't trust anyone." The men who attacked his church were shot dead by police after an apparent escape attempt last month.

Christians frequently occupy the lowest positions in Pakistani society. In major cities such as Islamabad and Karachi thousands live in shanty towns. Many work as road-sweepers, though a few are employed by international organisations or as domestic staff for the small foreign community.

Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, appeared to promise respite for persecuted religious minorities shortly after he seized power in a coup three years ago. He undid a long-criticised law enforcing separate electorates during general elections but balked at changing perhaps the most discriminatory weapon, the blasphemy law. Under this law, anyone who is seen to have criticised or mocked Islam can be sentenced to death. It has often been badly abused to settle disputes against Christians.