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Deadly Bombing Near Pakistan Army HQ
November 2, 2009 - 9:39 AM | by: Scott HeidlerIslamabad -- A suicide blast in the garrison city of Rawalpindi has killed at least 35 people. The attack just after 10:30 AM local time appears to have targeted a group of people collecting paychecks at the National Bank, most were members of the military. Pakistan's Army headquarters is near the blast site.
It was difficult for journalists to get close to the blast site with the heavy security presence in the area. A wide cordon was set up immediately after the attack.
Rawalpindi is considered the 'twin city' of Islamabad and has been the scene of several militant attacks over the last four weeks. Militants shot their way into the GHQ, Pakistan's Pentagon, on October 10th and kidnapped a group of military officers and civilians. The 22-hour siege ended when commandos stormed the building where the hostages were being held.
Militants have also twice attempted to assassinate military officers by drive-by shootings on military vehicles. They were successful in one case killing a Brigadier.
The attacks are thought to be retaliation by Taliban militants and other groups associated with Al Qaeda for the military's operation in the militant stronghold of South Waziristan. The army has said that over 300 militants have been killed in Operation Path of Salvation now in its third week.
Also, the UN announced today that it has suspended some of its long-term development work along the border with Afghanistan and will pull out some expatriate staff as a result of the growing violence. More than 300 people have been killed over the last four weeks. One attack targeted the UN World Food Program's office in Islamabad.
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