Deadly attack on Pakistan convoy

[bemildred]

Source: al Jazeera

A suicide bomber has attacked a military convoy killing at least 15 security personnel in a tribal region of northwest Pakistan, police have said.

Fifteen more people were injured in the attack, which was carried out near a checkpoint in the town of Kohat.

Fareed Khan, a senior police officer, said on Saturday: "The bomber was driving a pick-up truck which he rammed into a convoy passing by a security checkpost."

The checkpoint is near the Orakzai tribal region in Pakistan, which has emerged in
recent months as a base for pro-Taliban fighters who have stepped up their battle against the government.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/04/20094181144454174.html

[Teaser]

1. I thought Pakistan surrendered to this lot.

.

[bemildred]

2. Not a monolithic entity.

Too many to surrender to them all, even if you wanted to.

[Teaser]

3. mostly joking here

fair point though.

[bemildred]

5. Me too.

:hi:

[dipsydoodle]

4. Shame the bomber didn't have a cold this morning

He might have stayed home instead.

[ohio2007]

6. Islamabad in frontline of Pakistan struggle with Islamic militants

Islamabad in frontline of Pakistan struggle with Islamic militants


Fortifications are springing up across Islamabad as foreigners retreat from public view and Pakistanis worry about the possibility of a Mumbai-style attack on shops, offices or even schoolchildren. Twelve-metre (40ft) high sandbag walls, nests of gun-toting soldiers and concrete blast walls have started to appear around the once sleepy federal capital, where over the last year Taliban suicide bombers have attacked a five-star hotel, the Danish embassy and several army and police posts.

The most visible precautions have been taken at UN offices, most of which now resemble facilities in war zones. "In terms of security instability Pakistan has become as dangerous as Iraq and Afghanistan," said a senior UN official. Last week a Taliban commander, Mullah Nazir Ahmed from South Waziristan, threatened to overrun the city. "The day is not far when Islamabad will be in the hands of the mujahideen," he told al-Qaida's media wing As-Sahab.


snip

Meanwhile hardware stores have found a lucrative new product line: blast film. "If a bomb goes off, it stops the glass from flying into your home," saleswoman Zahida Hashmi explained at the Ideal Home store.But the most profound changes are being felt by Pakistanis, including the well-heeled, who are starting to feel their city has moved to the frontline of the war against militancy. Last weekend most English language schools in the city closed, some for several days, amid rumours of a commando-style gun attack on a school. One institution, which caters to foreigners, remains shut, with classes continuing by email.
School owners said they were installing closed circuit television
and hiring armed guards, but admitted the precautions were insufficient to stop a suicide bomber. "Privilege won't buy you security any more," said one. "We are wondering how we can stay here if your kids are not safe."

snip

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/18/islamabad-war-islamic-militants

School owners video will soon show the world the barbarians at their gates in close to real time .
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3818603&mesg_id=3818603

Goodnight Islamabad
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3808289&mesg_id=3809305