Suicide Bombing Kills 13 in Pakistan

Authorities in Pakistan say a suspected Taliban suicide bomber on Monday blew himself up not far from the military's headquarters, killing at least 13 people, including soldiers and wounding at least 18 others. The bloodshed comes a day after a powerful blast inside an army compound in a restive northwestern town killed 20 soldiers.

The early morning bombing occurred in a busy market about 30 meters from an entry gate to the army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Pakistani troops were apparently the target.
 
Senior police official Haroon Joyia told reporters the suicide bomber was riding a bicycle and detonated his explosives as he got close to a military checkpoint.
 
The police officer said experts have found body parts of the suspected bomber and are trying to determine his identity. He added that school children were among civilians killed in the blast.
 
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the carnage. It was the second deadly assault the militants have carried out against the army within 24 hours.
 
Sunday, a powerful bomb ripped through a vehicle packed with soldiers, killing 20 of them. The attack occurred inside any army compound shortly before troops were to be dispatched for weekly deployment in the neighboring North Waziristan tribal district, a hub of al-Qaida-linked extremists.
 
Speaking to a gathering of scholars and foreign diplomats in Islamabad Monday afternoon, Pakistan's president, Mamnoon Hussain, reiterated that his country has borne the brunt of the fallout from the U.S.-led war in neighboring Afghanistan but said there is still a lack of understanding about the critical situation facing Pakistan.
 
“Pakistan has incurred enormous human and material losses, while being a part of the international campaign against terrorism," he said. "Thousands of precious lives have been lost and the economic losses run over billions of dollars. Sometimes, our commitment is questioned. The reality is that leaving aside Afghanistan, there is no other country in the world than Pakistan that has paid a high price. There is no parallel to the sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and our security forces.”
 
The Pakistani president was apparently referring to U.S. criticism that Islamabad has not done enough to uproot militant bases, particularly in the Waziristan tribal region where the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan is believed to be receiving support. American lawmakers have even accused the Pakistani military of supporting the insurgency activity, charges Pakistani officials deny.
 
The stepped up Taliban violence has prompted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to cancel his trip to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos this week.
 
Sharif chaired a special Cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss security concerns stemming from the militant attacks. Officials quoted him as telling the meeting that his “government is committed to curbing terrorism and all steps are being taken to restore peace.”


fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/suicide-bombing-kills-13-in-pakistan/1833488.html

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