At least 13 people including six army personnel were killed and many feared injured in a bomb blast near the RA Bazaar in Rawalpindi on Monday.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack that targeted a joint check post of the police and the Pakistan Army.
“We will continue attacks on the government and its armed forces as the government has neither announced ceasefire nor peace talks with us,” said TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid. The 10 kilogram bomb exploded in front of the National Logistics Cell building near the General Headquarters of the Pakistan military and the RA police station.
The market, a short walk from the army headquarters in Rawalpindi is in one of the most secure areas of the city, said Police Chief Akhtar Hayat Lalika.
Potohar Superintendent of Police (SP) said in the attack six army personnel and seven civilians lost their lives.
According to SSP Operations, the suicide bomber was between 18 and 20 years of age. Eye witnesses said that the attacker was on a motorcycle.
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals and most of them were said to be in a critical condition.
Also, the injured included mostly civil staff of security agencies and school-going children. The news of the blast led to parents rushing to schools near the site to inquire about the children’s safety.
Security forces had cordoned off the location of the blast.
According to initial reports, it was suspected that the blast could have been a suicide attack.
Shahidullah Shahid said that the group had carried out the attack in Rawalpindi, adding that it was in response to the on-going military operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and the killing of the militant leader Waliur Rehman.
Moreover, police had started investigation and was searching for evidence from the spot where the explosion took place and a search operation was also launched in the adjoining areas. The death toll is feared to rise.
The blast occurred one day after an attack on a convoy of security forces near the Cantt area in Bannu district, which killed 20 people and injured 30. This attack was also claimed by the TTP with its spokesman saying the group’s onslaught on security forces would continue.
It looks as if govt is at weaker wicket. I wonder the Ulemas are keeping mum the issue. TTp has started dictating its own terms.
It is horible to see that these things still hapen. Hopefully the year 2014 will bring more peace into the region.
That’s what you think…keep your fingers crossed. If such act continuos, the govt of NS will notl last till june14 …..
May Allah save our beloved country. And bring peace and destroy our enemies. Our Govt should took pity on people of Pakistan. Innocent people have started killing on daily basis. Govt has bo plan and has become weaker.
The TTP/Taliban promise continued attacks on the government on one hand while their spokesman says he want to join peace talks?…everything they say to the media is a lie and they are just playing with the government by claiming interest in talks while increasing the violence around the country…Wake up Pakistan!…peace talks with mass murderers will never be successful…do you think that after years of planning bomb attacks and murdering soldiers, women and children that these barbarians are just going to stop and become peaceful productive citizens?….it is incredible that you can be so naive…
i agree with you. Govt has to expose who is supporting TTP.
This act has proved the following :
– govt has failed to provide internal security, which is the responsibility of the govt
– there has been mássive Intel failure on the part of provincial govt as well as center….
– the govt and its state machinery has failed to pre-empt act of terrorism even though a common literate persons were very much aware in the expected increase in these acts of terrorism after the selection of fazlullah ( maulana Radio ). Why the govt and the Armed forces did not take proactive steps to pre- empt such act ?even though all are aware of fazlullah being a sworn enemy of the Armed forces after his eviction from Swat……
Can anyone explain to me…pls.
Besides Nawaz govt, I blame ex-COAS Kiayani who kept quiet for all the attacks on the armed forces. He has turned Pakistan army into cowards who get beat by everyone. I wonder what the world thinks of the 6th largest army in the world who cannot wipe out 2 or 3 thousand terrorists. If 600,000 trained army personell cannot take on 3,000 talibans then what makes them think they can take on a power house like India?
Hey Mr. so called expert,where do you come up with 2 or 3 thousand terrorists??? What have you done as a civilian other than run your sorry mouth.
The brave army of the Pakistan do not know what to do , where to go ?? . All this is because of poor administration and corrupt policies.
You guys cannot even defend yourselves, why are you wasting our tax paid money. If your (Pak army ) still feels proud, then give me a genuine reason.
What wonderful webs our enemy weaves. Sat in Washington, comfortably they are making Pakistani kill Pakistani without firing a single bullet themselves.
Moreover, lol – they are selling our government and ttp the weapons with which to kill each other.
What a profitable game of chess they play. While stupid Pakistanis play right into their hands so easily.
This is what happen when the army becomes the hired gun and kills it's own people and crooks are selected by outsiders to run our country.
Comments are closed.