Attacks kill 16 in Pakistan, spy agency targeted
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomber in a pickup truck attacked the northwestern regional headquarters of the Pakistani spy agency overseeing a campaign against militancy, killing 10 people Friday. Another suicide assault in the area killed six more.
The bombings were the latest in a string of attacks on security forces, civilians and Western targets since the government launched an offensive in mid-October against militants in the border region of South Waziristan, where al-Qaida and Taliban leaders are believed to be hiding out.
The attack on the Inter-Services Intelligence agency building occurred in the city of Peshawar, which has borne the brunt of the militants' retaliation against the army offensive. A wave of bombings in the last week alone in and around the city has killed more than 50 people.
"This is a guerrilla war," said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the information minister for North West Frontier Province, where Peshawar is the capital. "We will continue our action against these militant terrorists. That is the only way we can survive."
Security forces guarding the intelligence complex opened fire on a pickup laden with explosives, but the bomber was able to detonate his payload, said an intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
The early morning blast, heard across the city, destroyed much of the three-story building and killed 10 people, including seven who worked for the spy agency, the army said in a statement. Another 55 people were wounded, officials said.
"I was going to work when the blast took place and shattered the windows of our vehicle," said witness Abdul Rahim Khan. "Thank God we are safe. There were a lot of dead bodies lying around."
About an hour later, a second suicide car bomber attacked a police station farther south near the Afghan border, killing six people, said police official Tahir Shah. Five of the dead were policemen working at the station in Bakkakhel village in Bannu district; the other was a civilian. Another 27 people were wounded, he said.
The station is close to the border with North Waziristan, an area in Pakistan's semiautonomous tribal region where officials believe many militants have fled to escape the recent army offensive.
The bombings took place as U.S. National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones visited the country for talks with top political and security officials, including military chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Recent comments
God bless these people
Anonymous | Nov. 13, 2009 at 9:47 a.m.
- Cutler, Bears hold off Rams 2:28 p.m.
- Vick runs, throws for TD 2:23 p.m.
- Bengals beat Lions 23-13 2:20 p.m.
- Jaguars beat Texans 23-18 2:17 p.m.
- Palin's Iowa stop spurs talk 2:14 p.m.
- Apple confirms purchase of Lala.com 2:10 p.m.
- Iraqi parliament approves election law 2:06 p.m.
- Poinsettias need partners 2:00 p.m.
- Somali gov't replaces officials 1:55 p.m.
- Both candidates claim victory 1:44 p.m.
- Y., U. to learn bowl destinations
- The forgotten ship: USS Utah
- Utahns want health care reform bills
- Snowy roads cause accidents, delays
- BYU basketball: Cougars crush Dons
- Tiger's SUV, personal life are a wreck
- Kurt Bestor: Joy for the world
- Jazz upset by Wolves
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
- Branch president without a congregation
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
314 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
253 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
209 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
189 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
129 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
112 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
105 - Harpring's NBA career is over
94 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
94
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
KM, no, we told the enemy that we are going to kill a lot of them in the next...
I'll take the health care plan that Congress now currently has...$500.00 a...
Why is there no mention of how the wife is? The article states that she was...
I am glad that people gave so good to the Utah Food bank this year, Their...
As an Atheist Merry Christmas doesn't offend me *Roll-Eyes* what offends me...
"We could win this war in record time with overwhelming force, but,...
I don't need to read anything but the title of the article to know that its...
does that mean I have to change my behavior? Arrrghhhh! Jeff is an evil...
Yesterday was about 0:37 seconds from disaster. As the poster from 1:08 PM...
Its Utah drivers they mostly all drive too fast it doesn't matter what...



