Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) – The death toll from two separate attacks this morning in Pakistan is 16 dead and dozens injured. The fundamentalists have hit the offices of the intelligence services in Peshawar, north-west of the country. In the town of Bannu, south-west of Peshawar, always in the Frontier Province to the northwest, a suicide bomber in a car bomb destroyed a local police station.
The attacks today are yet another Taliban response to the army offensive launched against their stronghold in South Waziristan. In recent weeks a long streak of blood has stained the country, causing hundreds of casualties. Just over two weeks ago, in Peshawar, over 100 people were killed in an attack on the city market, mostly women and children.
The blast in Peshawar occurred this morning at 6.30 local time. A suicide bomber aboard a car, hit the headquarters of the ISI, Pakistani's powerful intelligence service. Witnesses reported dozens of seriously injured transported to hospitals in the area; there might be other victims under the rubble caused by the explosion.
Shortly after the attack in Peshawar, a suicide bomber launched himself against a police station in Bannu. Five officers were killed in the blast, over 20 injured. The town is located not far from the border with North Waziristan tribal region, which is also a stronghold of the Taliban.
The Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the double attack. He also reiterated that the government will not be "intimidated" by the violence and the army continues its offensive to crush the resistance of the extremists.
Since the summer of 2007 almost 2,500 people have died in terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
