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Members of a bomb disposal team stand over an auto-rickshaw which was destroyed in a suicide bomb attack in Peshawar - Source: Reuters
A suicide bomber in an auto-rickshaw blew himself up in
Pakistan, killing three people while four soldiers were killed in
South Waziristan when militants struck back in their captured
headquarters.
Islamist militants have unleashed a campaign of attacks in Pakistan
in recent weeks in retaliation for a major offensive by security
forces on their main bastion of South Waziristan on the Afghan
border.
In the latest bomb blast, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives
when police stopped him on the outskirts of the north-western city
of Peshawar.
"The bomber was in a rickshaw and detonated his explosives when the
rickshaw was stopped for a check," said police official Zafar
Khan.
A policeman, a passer-by and the rickshaw driver were killed while
five people were wounded.
Police said the bomber was apparently trying to get into the city
centre to stage the attack, but set off his explosives as he knew
he would be caught at the checkpoint.
It was the second attack in the Peshawar region in 24 hours.
A suicide bomber killed an anti-Taliban village mayor and 11 other
people in an attack near the city on Sunday.
On Sunday evening, police in the capital, Islamabad, shot dead a
suicide bomber before he could set off his explosives as he ran
towards a police checkpost.
The militant attacks has unsettled trade on Pakistan's stock
market and the main index ended 1.93% lower at 8,936.48 last
Friday.
Despite the security worries, the index has gained 52% this year
after losing 58.33% last year.
The market was closed for a public holiday on Monday.
Rocket attack
Authorities say the bomb attacks only stiffen their resolve to
defeat the Pakistani Taliban in South Waziristan.
The region's rugged landscape of barren mountains and hidden
ravines has become a global centre of Islamist militancy and the
offensive is closely watched by the United States and other powers
embroiled in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The army went on the offensive in the ethnic Pashtun region on
October 17, aiming to root out the militants attacking the
state.
Soldiers have been advancing into the Pakistani Taliban heartland
from three directions and have entered the Taliban headquarters in
the town of Makeen.
Analysts say many militants appeared to have melted away, perhaps
into neighbouring North Waziristan where allied factions are based,
from where they could strike back.
Militants hit back late on Sunday, firing rockets at a security
force post in Makeen and killing four soldiers, the military
said.
Eight militants were killed.
According to army figures, 486 militants have been killed since the
offensive began while 48 soldiers have died.
There was no independent verification of casualties as reporters
and other independent observers are not allowed into the war zone
except on an occasional trip with the military.
Militant factions operating in other parts of the lawless border
belt, which focus on attacking Western forces in neighbouring
Afghanistan, are for the time being left alone.
Separately, two paramilitary soldiers were killed in the Bajaur
region, which is also on the Afghan border to the northeast of
Waziristan, when a roadside bomb blew up their vehicle, government
officials said.
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