Security officials inspect the site of the suicide blast in Bajaur. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KHAR: A female suicide bomber blew herself up outside a hospital in a Bajaur Agency Saturday and killed at least four people and wounded four others, officials said.
The attack took place in Khar, the main town of Bajaur tribal district bordering Afghanistan where the military has carried out several offensives against al Qaeda-linked Taliban militants.
"At least four people were killed and four others were wounded in the blast outside the main gate of the hospital," Mohammad Riaz, chief doctor at the government hospital, told AFP.
Local administration official Abdul Haseeb confirmed that it was a female suicide bomber and the casualties.
"It was a female suicide bomber, about 18-20 years old, we have found her legs and head," he said.
However, the Assistant Political Agent Khar Asad Sarwar said that the bomber was a fifty years age who was trying to enter the hospital, who first hurled a hand grenade and later blew up herself.
The dead included a security personnel, a hospital worker and two civilians, he added.
Bajaur is one of seven districts that make up Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The semi-autonomous region of mountains, valleys and caves is one of the most deprived and ill-educated in the country.
It has been a stronghold for Afghan Taliban, al Qaeda and other Pakistani militant groups, and a battleground between the army and insurgents.
Pakistan has lost more than 3,000 soldiers in the fight against homegrown insurgents but has resisted US pressure to do more to eliminate havens used by those fighting the Americans in Afghanistan.
COMMENTS (18)
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Who says the extremist terrorists do not have equality among men and women! The other news is the assurance our army chief has given us " General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Saturday said that Pakistan is fully capable of responding effectively to any threat"
It's so unfortunate that she practices a radical strain of Islam, unlike the silent majority who don't.
And THEN they question baygairat brigade.
Will someone again tell me about the value of life in PAK
One more reason to ban burka
Its about time Burqa should be banned. Or security personnel should be allowed to frisk such fanatically and heavily veiled women.
I've seen this a unique case. in this attack, first time an old lady is used... a new type of attack... and she did not have much explosive on her body....
when will govt ask army to fight the TTP out of NWA......maybe they are too scared and jump to any offers from these animals due fear?????
results of army operation, you cannot realize that because you sit in home and just watch news....only
results of army operations, you can't realize that because you sit in home and watch news just,.....
I'm having a really tough time believing that this was a female suicide bomber. The Taliban are as extremist and fundamentalist as you could get, and to think that they've stooped to the level of hiring 'females' who should otherwise stay in their 'chaar diwari' (four walls) according to their twisted logic...
This use of a female for war also seems very odd when compared to the Pashtunwali ethics. Shows that the culprits behind this are neither Muslims nor true Pashtuns but a bunch of sick, twisted criminals.
Who were the people that brainwashed her? Moreover, why did they hire and collaborate with a "non-mahram" woman?
Can't believe these are the same thugs who blow up girl's schools and say women shouldn't leave their homes. But I guess all rules change when it comes to their holy war?
What is the point of having the world's 5th largest army if they can't fight terrorists?
What use is nuclear power if the country's citizens are being attacked day in day out?
It is definitely our war, not only America's war, people who say its not our war should be rejected in the coming elections. Time is now to vote for a better Pakistan, a safer Pakistan, a Pakistan where terrorists are tried & punished the same day.
Step 1 would be sweeping bigger cities for people who promote extremist ideologies. Step 2 would be to sweep the suburbs and smaller towns. Step 3 would be to make a push for them in the mountains where they hide or thrive rather.
Pakistanis should learn something from Boston. We should stand as one community and hunt down all the maniacs without second thought or sympathy.
Voice of D.I. Khan; I agree with you. Saleem & Khawaja Javed; our politicians lack the courage [and are afraid] to fight them and hence the talk of negotiations. Of course it yields a big lot of political points [they think] for our politicians, but the people of Pakistan may want otherwise; that is to put an end to this terrorism, once and for all. Now the question is who should I vote for on May 11th?
Normal people would expect a Bostonlike manhunt for the culprits who brainwashed this young lady. No not here. It is hardly news. How sad.
We are dying as a country. We lack any will to fight the terroists.
It is pretty naïve that many politicians still believe that we should negotiate with these murderers, who pride themselves in killing innocent people and blowing up schools. And this is a new low to blow up hospitals. What do these murderers care about?
Those politicians who fool people in the name of Islam should be held responsible for these attacks on our Pakistanis....