Pakistan in Dilemma as Two suicide Blasts Claim 65 lives

Two suicide blasts claim 65 lives in E Pakistan

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-21 19:17:59

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) --

As many as 65 people died and 76 others were injured in two suicide blasts in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province on Thursday, state-run PTV reported.

The blasts occurred at two gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah Cantt when the shift was changed, said the report.

A militant organization Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar asked the security forces to stop their operations in the northwestern part and tribal areas, said the report.

He warned that more attacks would be conducted in other places if the operations were not terminated.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani strongly condemned the bomb blasts and directed the authorities to make efforts to expose the hidden hands behind the incident and bring them to justice.

A suicide bomber blew himself up at a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan in North West Frontier Province on Tuesday, killing at least 23 people and injuring 15 others.

Editor: An

Pakistan in a dilemma as terrorist attacks at peak

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-21 23:32:46

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) --

Two suicide blasts occurred in Pakistan's cantonment city Wah Cantt on Thursday, leaving 76 people dead and 110 others injured, according to state-run PTV.

It is the second suicide attack within three days in Pakistan, a sign that the terrorists activities have reached a new height.

The blasts took place at the main gate and another gate of Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah Cantt, some 50 km northwest from Islamabad.

Two suicide bomber blew themselves up at the time when the shift was changed and a lot of workers were leaving the factory in a bid to cause maximum casualties.

A militant organization Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. The TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar asked the security forces to stop their operations in the northwestern part and tribal areas, private TV channel Ary One World reported.

It is worth mentioning that the group was also responsible for a suicide blast at a hospital in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on Tuesday. As many as 23 people were killed in the attack.

He warned that more attacks would be conducted in other places during the coming two days if the operations were not terminated.

As always, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani strongly condemned the bomb blasts and directed the authorities to make efforts to expose the hidden hands behind the incident and bring them to justice.

However, it seems that there is still a long way for the country to defeat the menace of terrorism.

The Pakistani government has made it clear that a multi-faceted strategy will be adopted to win a war against terrorism. After the coalition government came into being at the end of March, the administration initiated peace talks with militants in the northwestern part of the country.

As the talks with militant groups were nearing an end, the Pakistani government was facing mounting pressure from the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which were fighting Taliban in Afghanistan.

The NATO spokesman Mark Laity in late May urged Pakistan to avoid agreements that "put our troops and our mission under threat." The U.S. officials also voiced their concern that Islamabad's peace talks with militants could preclude a rise in attacks in Afghanistan.

The Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama even threatened to send troops to Pakistan to hunt down militants.

At the end of June, Gillani gave full authority to the army chief in connection with the military operation in northwestern Pakistan. The security forces launched a major operation against militants thereafter.

During his visit to the U.S. in July, Gillani pledged that Pakistan would continue its fight against terrorists.

"We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists who are destroying and making the world not safe," Gillani said.

Gillani sought the cooperation from the U.S. for economic stabilization to overcome financial, energy and food problems.

Pakistan is currently facing high inflation and its economy has shown signs of slowdown, making the U.S. financial aid for Pakistan more significant.

On the other hand, lawmakers in the U.S. called for a review of its financial aid to Pakistan. They proposed that the aid should be based on Pakistan's performance in fighting militants.

After the resignation of former President Pervez Musharraf who used to be called a key ally of the U.S. against terrorism, the TTP said that they would support the coalition government if they rejected Musharraf's anti-terror policy. However, Gillani said the government would continue to fight terrorism.

Thus the security across Pakistan will be put on high alert as the militants are pondering more attacks.

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