Fatal blast near Pakistan army base
Bomber blows himself up killing at least 11 people and injuring 22 in Mardan.
Published On 19 May 2008
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The attack was the deadliest in more than two months and could complicate efforts by the new government to reach peace deals with fighters.
Those talks have already been buffeted by a suspected US missile strike that left several dead in a nearby tribal area.
Security in Pakistan has deteriorated significantly since mid-2007, with tribal fighters linked to the Taliban and al-Qaeda carrying out bombings and suicide attacks.
More than 600 people have been killed in the violence since the beginning of this year.
Sunday’s attack came amid efforts by the new government – sworn in at the end of March – to broker a peace deal with tribes in the semi-autonomous areas bordering Afghanistan, where the violence has been most pronounced.
Wajid Ali Khan, a government official in the North West Frontier Province, condemned the attack as “cowardly”.
“We are engaged in efforts for peace and stability in this province and this seemed to be an act to sabotage our efforts,” he said.
Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies