19 killed, 20 injured in Peshawar blast
Reports state that a bomb had targeted a bus of Civil Secretariat employees. Eyewitnesses said that up to 30 people were on board the bus when it was targeted.
The bomb disposal squad (BDS) reached the scene and began collecting evidence.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain confirmed the death toll.
Speaking to the media outside Lady Reading Hospital, Hussain said, "11 people are dead here. The bodies of four men, six women and one young girl are at this hospital."
He said that 10 injured were currently under treatment at the hospital, out of which five were in critical condition.
Confirming reports from Charsaddah Hospital, the information minister said that 8 bodies had been taken there.
"Since the rear of the vehicle was affected the most in the explosion, the bomb might have been planted there and detonated remotely," said Hussain.
Condeming the attack, the minister said, "Spreading fear and indulging in terrorism is the only reason for such an act."
"We are in favour of talks but if they (terrorists) refuse, we will be forced to take action against them," said Hussain.
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@Cautious: CENTCOM: The trouble we are having is that U.S. intelligence agencies, U.S. Blackwater type mercenaries, and U.S. troops with doubtful I.Q.'s are creating so many problems for Pakistan security it is hard to keep up with the problems they are creating. I am not sure what the answer to all the problems are, but it is quite clear that Centcom certainly does not.
@kanwal: Though we have our agreements and disagreements, I sincerely appreciate your openness in the discussions. I see your point on IK and there is no alternative due to lack of able and sincere leaders. My only wish is that IK does not take up the cause of extremists which will only cause more harm to Pakistan. He has his strengths and if used for the right cause, he can transform Pakistan. We have had discussions in the past also and you may be surprised that I have my regards for you and appreciate your sincere interests for the good of Pakistan. My best wishes to you and your family. Raj - USA
@Adnan: No, didn't conclude that sort of prejudice at all, but ironically, thank you for confirming my point on religious-nationalist extremism and derangement which includes anti-minority sectarian demonizing bigotry through marginalizing xenophobic conspiracy mongering.
@ Faesal ..its Not Pakistan Zindabaad....When was it ? Everytime it tries to get up, it gets stomped, fondled and beaten up.either by dictators, Mukti Vahinis, Indian Army (4 times atleast count) and the usual master and slave fight with US & NATO ....and now the...Karachi & Quetta unreast..baloochi & sindhi, KP, Ouucpied Kashmir fight for freedom ....at best it can only be...PAKISTAAN ZINDABHAAG...what else.
Why not security agencies make a counter-terrorism network in troubled areas with only scope to track and kill monsters who are destroying lives of thousands everyday
in my opinion some arabs are still living there and creating this type of trouble.
The state failure. It's time to revive the natural boundaries.
@bigsaf:
Thanks for making the point that barelvis,Shias,Qadyanis and Agha Khanis are pro-US thus anti-Muslims
@Raj - USA:
Yes we should not blame USA only while we have India across the border.
@SoundofFury:
No, his comments came out yesterday after a few days back offensive attack at Khost which resulted the death of hundreds of American soldiers.
@Raj-USA I agree with you about Imran Khan completely. However, what i do not understand is, how the Pakistanis are supposed to take care of the extremism themselves while simultaneously the elite class, which helped in seeding this extremism in th first place decades ago, is still getting all the perks and a huge amount of money from their foreign friends. And these freindly nations are supposed to be the most developed and civilised countries. My question is, if people of the nations like these have not been able to bring Bush, Blair and Co. to courts for the blatant crimes, let alone paying back the damages they have caused to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan's economies and common public, HOW in the world Pakistanis can be held responsible to correct in few years the crimes they did not even sponsor in the first place? I highly appreciate that you know a lot of people are supporting IK. But i really dont know what else you could expect right now, with all the help he is getting for keeping the "strategic assets" afloat and all the paranoia in youth which is again a cosequence of failures of this country in the last 30 years? No matter how you twist it, all the strings go back to the superpowers and their criminals pals here, who have enough money to sponsor this whole game for their own interest. This interest doesnt at all involve the well being of Pakistani or USA public. Do you realise they have kept their own people busy with bread and circuses while bombarding other countries? A lot of people in USA accept it was Bush's fault? Well, i can give you at least a dozen names other than Bush who were and are still connected to the War of Terror scenario somehow and are not considered criminals in USA. Again, bread and circuses for you. No bread and bombs for us. The objective in both cases is pretty clear: keep people busy. So before you start a sermon every time a bomb explodes here on how Pakistanis should try to curb terrorism, which would nt be all wrong though may be highly unrealistic, take a moment to put yourself in Pakistani youth's shoes too and see how WE see YOU. People to people.
This is so because when we make strategic alliances then at some point of time some parties are happy and others not (and vice versa ) .Our country in this economic situation can not afford to be proxy of anyone , we must drove out all those alliances or groups ,agencies , or what ever you call them , We only need to take care of this huge nation of 180 million . Constant relation with all countries and always remain impartial
@Pakistani
So how does some terrorist nutter blowing up a bunch of people prove prove your point? Seems to me the object lesson is that Pakistan needs to get rid of the terrorist.
@kanwal: Iraq was a blunder of Bush. I and most Americans would agree on this. However, Afghanistan problem started much before 9/11. It was Clinton who first bombed Afghanistan / Pakistan bordering areas with cruise missiles. I agree with you when you say, "And it takes generations to correct such a damage". You have also mentioned of culprits sitting in the government. God gave Pakistan an opportunity. Who is the only leader in Pakistan liked by most, if not many, in Pakistan today? It is Imran Khan. I used to like and adore him several months ago and have expressed my admiration for him in some of my earlier comments. He has (or rather had) the power to carry the people behind him and mould their thoughts and opinion. However, he chose to wear the brown (or beige) cap of DPC. His silence on many issues are confusing, conspicuous and clearly misleading. He has never condemned any intolerance, terror activities or dark age tribal practices. He often says that it is not our war. Whose war is it? Of course, it is Pakistan's war that Pakistan should fight in its own interest. 40,000 have been killed. Who are they? They are Pakistanis killed by Pakistanis or other muslim terrorists. So many lives of Pakistanis lost and yet IK says it is not Pakistan's war. A leader who is aspiring to become the PM and does not care for the lives of his own population. Sounds similar and as disconnected as "Who is Stopping Them?". What amuses me is also that he goes on to explain so many times that his ex wife was earlier a Christian and not a Jew. Cannot understand how the former religion of your ex matters so much. Conversion of a Jew is different than conversion of a Christian!!! These are extremist thoughts deeply imbedded in the mind which is dangerous. Will such leaders curtail or cultivate extremism ? As you say, it takes generations to correct the damage. But a sincere beginning has to be made.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of people killed in the Peshawar blast today. It is sad to see innocent women and children being targeted in these blasts, but it is also sad to see that some of you implicate the United States in these terror activities. The United States is totally against the killing of innocent people. You forget that we are in the region to fight against these terrorists. It is easy to wrongly implicate others without a shred of evidence. What is amazing is that we do not even pay attention to people who boldly claim responsibilities for these atrocities. Time has come for all to put aside conspiracy theories and look at the situation we are in. That is the only way we will see the truth, and the truth is that terrorist organizations are thriving in the lawless northern region of Pakistan. That is where they are operating from and that is where we have to go and hit them with full force. Unless that happens, we will keep blaming others while the terrorists from our backyard will keep killing our innocent people.
That proves my point , We as a nation must keep ourselves out of strategic alliances with any country ,only make economic alliances and on strategy excuse ourselves in all respects .We must accept that corruption and lack of leadership had made us an underdeveloped country
@SoundofFury: In the media outlet I have read Mr Panetta's comments were reported on the 7th June at 12.30 PM, and the blast was reported on 7th June at 6.13 PM. The Peshawar blast was reported on 8th June. I do not see the significance of the timing, but the figures given may help you. Obviously, the persons who perpetrated these crimes had to be deranged, but I think it is true to say that the last eleven years of warfare have been arranged and carried out by psychopaths. I do not see any improvement at varying levels anytime soon.
@Bigsaf
The famous line uttered by Jack Tripper from Three's Company on some of the episodes was "you said it, you said it, you said it". You hit the nail on the head. It is a shame that we cannot admit our own shortcomings and faults and always look for a scapegoat to shift the blame.
Does anybody know who is killing who ? Does anybody know why ? What a country !!!!!!!! If they cant fint the culprits at least the reason will help in providing solutions and preventing further senseless killing. Even animals dont kill wantonly and senselessly.
"“We are in favour of talks but if they (terrorists) refuse, we will be forced to take action against them,” said Hussain"
When will that happy occasion come when you take action? Are you waiting for an invitation to get started?
Delusional conspiracists and denialists continue to shamefully spout twisted illogical lies and prejudice, when there is much evidence and history of local/foreign Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremist militants and terrorists who murder innocents, Muslim or otherwise, which spikes on Fridays. Incredible that a decade later, many citizens still don't accept Pak is infested with such groups and their own violent ideological agendas. What does it say of people knowing Mehsuds, OBL, Haqqanis, sectarianism, the take over in Swat, etc is in the backdrop and try claiming it as a US conspiracy? Ignorant? Apathetic? Insane? Secret supporters? Borderline criminal? They rather insult the victims, everyone else's intelligence and sanity and indulge in unfounded conspiracy based on a foreign official saying such and such, nonsensically directly linking it to the most recent attack, as if they made a solid argument, ignoring all other evidences or historical trend and crimes i.e. reality. Deranged in anti-US sentiment or terrorist sympathy or both, it's an absolute failure of sincere thinking, ending up as hypocritical apologists, likely sharing extremist beliefs, defending terrorists, out of religious superstition or compulsion, and excusing the killers', and their own, culpability from acting against these monsters in our midst.
@Khan agree!! we need to get rid of foreigners from the border areas! But main thing is we need ALLAH per eman, nothing else and all our problems will be solved, yes we need to correct oursleves, ALLAH helps those who help themselves, lets all start making a a difference. Never lose hope as that is part of our eman :) USA may be powerful but there is diety that is far more powerful and only ALLAH's will matter.
@A2Z: Nobody has to obey nobody, only if you have a dignified attitude. And if you think somebody is your master then they surely are. Get rid of that inferiority complex.
@Raj - USA No one is blaming USA for anything. We are blaming known culprits sitting in the governement there whose hands are very dirty, not only in Pakistan, but alll over the world. Besides, we can clearly see a connection between Zawahiri's wife, USA and the stinking jihadi dollars. At least as much is clear. When you mutate whole generations, you ARE called culprits and criminals for generations to come. And it takes generations to correct such a damage. Pakistanis could very well take care of themselves, and mind you, we were as much nice a nation before the dark eras of 1980s as so many other nation around the globe. It will take some time for the common USA citizens to realise that Afghanistan was a bigger blunder than Iraq's lies. I have lots of friends in Europe who have begun to realise this already. It will be some time before it dawns on USA public.
Strange isn't it that nothing has changed in eleven years. Unknown people created 9/11 and the Taliban got the blame. Now bombs are exploding in Pakistan and unknown militants get the blame. If one suggests 9/11 was an American inside job you are accused of being a conspiracy theorist. On the other hand America has a nasty habit of attacking and bombing countries indiscriminately, particularly over the last eleven years, which has resulted in millions of people dying. In case there are some denials on this, the bombing of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen spring to mind quickly, but there are many other unfortunate countries. I consider that the ORDINARY VILLAGER and KANWAL missives have a point, and it may be fruitful to run some inferential statistics on the timing of American threats and subsequent bombings in Pakistan. After all Raymond Davis, a CIA operative, shot two men in the back at Lahore and killed them in broad daylight. I am sure the CIA is now being a little more cautious when they kill people in broad daylight.
Enough is enough, we cannot get any more Paksitanis killed! Americans take your wards away!! We must stand with our brothers!
@Ordinary Villager: You start with "Just see the timing". This is the best you can do ?. Blame USA for everything? You did not find a connection between these blasts and Mohtarma Zawahiri's advise to mothers and woman?
@Ordinary Villager You are absolutely right. Its a pattern thats emerging. I clearly remember La Clinton's thinly vieled threat saying something like that Pakistanis are going to recognise who is their enemy when they face the terror attacks. And then came a lot of blasts. Its clever the way all terrorists align their attacks' timings according to the US officials' angry statements about Pakistan.
This what happens when the mullah is aloud to flourish
k.p. govt what is it doing ?
@Ordinary Villager: This incident proves the US claim of achieving their target two days ago in the strike. Lets not forget there are foreigners living in our bordering areas in FATA and if they are so innocent they would have long left out country. They are hard core criminals and will not give up unless we flush them out by force and make such people to stop poking their nose in neighboring countries. US could humble Japan in WWII within minutes then what makes you think they will indulge in a proxy war against Pakistan, a weak country with no solid infrastructures where professionalism is only found in books, corruption & nepotism is more abundant than oxygen.
Brutal action by enemy, one day it will realise when his own children are caught by AZAB E ILLAHI.
Lets all pray for the departed souls and the victims families. Lets pray for the City Peshawar. Lets pray for our rulers. Lets pray for our beloved Country. Lets pray for ourselves.
@Pakistani Hindu: Its Still Pakistan Zindabad and we will fight to maintain it.
Many are still living in a state of denial despite thousands of blasts; they still can’t emerge from conspiracy theories. And strangely, the same would say that terrorism is a reaction of US operations against Taliban. We are a thoroughly confused lot
@Fugitive...in other words Pakistan should obey the Master according to their wishes...:(
@Ordinary Villager:
I think Panetta's comments came after the Quetta blast.
Our Pakistani brethren are not interested whether the routes open or not, whether Americans are still in Afghanistan or not... they will torment our lives for implementation of their agenda. For the sleep walkers on this thread, I would like to mention Swat. What they did with Swat is what actually they want. Everyone will protest that a certain General of US Army insulted Quran but no one will talk about the Qurans blown up in mosque alongside the worshippers by or very own muslim brethren.
@Ordinary Villager: Its tit for tat, Pakistan needs to act sensibly!
Strategic asset's strategic plan self experiment.
I am sure America is behind these new wave of terror attacks across Pakistan. Taliban and Al-Qaeda dont really need to target these. Americans want to say, 'either you open our NATO routes or we will continue bombing your targets....'.
The first slogan was PAKISTAN ZINDABAD, and now it is PAKISTAN SE ZINDA BHAAG!
Why do most of these blasts happen on Friday's ?
till the routes are not open, we ll be entertained by drones, blasts etc..welcome to Pakistan :)
Who says the bombings have stopped since the NATO supplies were suspended or is it just that the bombings have stopped in Punjab??
Just see the timings. For many days there were no bomb blasts and as soon as Panetta announced that Enough is enough with Pakistan we saw two blasts in two consecutive days. Proxy wars now a days are the best solution to make some country humble now a days. We should be prepared for more of such blasts in coming days.