Attack on Market in Pakistan Kills at Least 40

[cali]

Source: NYT




By PIR ZUBAIR SHAH and MARK McDONALD
Published: October 12, 2009

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A suicide car bomber attacked a military vehicle in a crowded market in northwest Pakistan on Monday, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens more, police and hospital officials said.

The explosion occurred at the Alpuri market — whose shops are adjacent to a police station and a mosque — in North-West Frontier Province. Among the dead, according to a local police official, were six soldiers and four newly recruited members of a community police force.

No one took immediate responsibility for the blast, although it was likely to be blamed on Talban insurgents who have been active in the area and in the nearby Swat Valley.

Two years ago next month, militants seized the police station in Alpuri, the headquarters of Shangla district, in a bold operation that embarrassed the Pakistani Army. At the time, the military had just been granted broader powers under an emergency decree to battle Taliban fighters and other militants who had steadily been taking control of Swat.

The bombing on Monday followed a brazen weekend assault by Taliban gunmen in Rawalpindi, the garrison city next to Islamabad and the headquarters of the Pakistani military.

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Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/world/asia/13pstan.html?hp

[InfiniteThoughts]

1. to the Pak PM ... the F-16s that you recently bought should be useful in this situation ... right?

Pakistani Politicians has no respect for their civilians. In fact, i presume that they rub their hands with glee when they see these attacks. These attacks would enable them to gain more money from US as military & non-military aid - money that will line the pockets of the politicians and their family rather than going to either their military or civilian population.

[pampango]

3. You're right about Pakistani politicians. Unfortunately for civilians the other side has no respect

for them either.

One side targets civilians to prove their point. The other side quietly smiles and waits for their next check.

[saigon68]

2. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[slackmaster]

4. Religion Of Peace strikes again

:argh:

[cosmicone]

5. I'll need way more popcorn if this continues .... n/t