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Suicide bomber kills 8 security men in SWA
Staff Reporter
Wana/Rawalpindi—A suicide bomber killed at least 8 security men in
the troubled South Waziristan tribal region on Sunday, the army
said.
Several other soldiers were injured when the bomber rammed his
explosive-laden vehicle near the headquarters of the security
forces, spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said.
The incident happened at Azam Warsak area, 15 km west of Wana, the
headquarters of South Waziristan, at 9 a.m., local officials said.
The army spokesman said the bomber tried to hit headquarters of the
security forces and used a truck for the attack.
Authorities say death toll may rise, adding that one vehicle of the
forces completely destroyed and two others damaged.
Locals said that the security forces blocked main road between Wana
and the border area of Angor Ada.
A U.S drone had fired a missile in the same area a few days ago to
target local Taliban leader Mulla Nazir, but he escaped unhurt.
However the attack had killed one person.
Mulla Nazir had led a tribal ‘Lashkar’ in 2007 to expel Uzbeks from
Wana, which created tension with Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah
mehsood.
Ahmed Zai tribe of South Waziristan while condemning suicide attack
on security forces in Wana has said that it could be the reaction of
strikes by Afghanistan based US allied forces in country’s tribal
areas.
The chieftains of Ahmed Zai tribe while talking to media said that
it would be premature to say anything about suicide attack but it
could be the work of local Taliban in reaction of strikes by
Afghanistan based US allied forces in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
The U.S. drones based in Afghanistan have carried out 20 strikes and
intrusions into country’s tribal areas in the last some weeks, they
said, adding that, innocent tribal people lost their lives in the
attacks.
The tribal chieftains went on to say that they have asked government
several times to take concrete steps to stop US incursion in
country’s tribal areas but to no avail. They have asked government
to change its foreign policy or halt war against terrorism because
it is creating negative impact against army.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza
Gilani have strongly condemned the suicide attack near Wana, South
Waziristan on Sunday.
In their separate message, the President and Prime Minister deplored
the loss of innocent lives and expressed their heartfelt condolences
to the bereaved families who lost their dear ones in this
unfortunate incident.
The President and Prime Minister also directed the local hospital to
provide all possible medical facilities to the injured till their
full recovery.
Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza and Deputy Speaker
Faisal Karim Kundi have also condemned suicide attack on security
force check post in South Waziristan.
In the separate condolence message to the bereaved families, they
expressed their sympathy with the families of the victims and prayed
to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and
grant the bereaved families the courage to bear the loss.
Chairman Senate Muhammadmian Soomro and Deputy Chairman Senate Jan
Muhammad Jamali expressed deep shock and sorrow at the loss of lives
in suicide attack on security forces check post and condemned the
incident.
Those who also condemned the attack include Former Prime Minister
Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Advisor to the Prime Minister on
Interior Rehman Malik, Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif,
Speaker Punjab Assembly, Governor Sindh, Governor Balochistan,
Governor NWFP, Governor Punjab, Chief Minister NWFP, Chief JUI-F
Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Head ANP Asfand Yar Wali, Quaid MQM Altaf
Hussain, MQM Parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar and others. |
