2008 Woodie Awards
Lahore bombings fuel pressure for Pakistan to rethink counter-terror strategy
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: World
LAHORE, Pakistan - The spread of terrorism across Pakistan yesterday from its unruly tribal regions to the cultural capital of Lahore has added to pressure to rethink its U.S.-allied president's approach to countering al-Qaida and the Taliban as a new government prepares to take office.
After two deadly suicide bombings in this normally peaceful eastern city, pressure grew for more dialogue with militants and less punitive military action, which President Pervez Musharraf's opponents say has only fueled the violence.
At least 24 people were killed and more than 200 wounded yesterday when massive explosions ripped through a police headquarters and a business located near a house belonging to the widower of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
Musharraf quickly condemned the "savage" bombings and said in a statement the government would continue to fight terrorism "with full force." Authorities have blamed Taliban and al-Qaida militants for a recent surge of bombings.
But some enraged Lahore residents blamed the Pakistani president, gathering in small groups yesterday on the city's main Mall Road, chanting "Musharraf is a dog, Musharraf is a pimp."
The winners of last month's elections accused the former army strongman of destabilizing the country with military operations against militants near the Afghan border and even suggested that rogue forces were trying to undermine Pakistan's return to democracy.
"He has carried out indiscriminate operations in the tribal areas that have opened up new fault lines in Pakistani society," said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the party set to partner with Bhutto's in the new government. "Unless he resigns, there will always be a cause for all these groups to carry on these activities."
Yesterday's blasts happened about 15 minutes apart in different districts of Lahore. The first tore the facade from the seven-story Federal Investigation Agency building as staff were beginning their work day.
After two deadly suicide bombings in this normally peaceful eastern city, pressure grew for more dialogue with militants and less punitive military action, which President Pervez Musharraf's opponents say has only fueled the violence.
At least 24 people were killed and more than 200 wounded yesterday when massive explosions ripped through a police headquarters and a business located near a house belonging to the widower of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
Musharraf quickly condemned the "savage" bombings and said in a statement the government would continue to fight terrorism "with full force." Authorities have blamed Taliban and al-Qaida militants for a recent surge of bombings.
But some enraged Lahore residents blamed the Pakistani president, gathering in small groups yesterday on the city's main Mall Road, chanting "Musharraf is a dog, Musharraf is a pimp."
The winners of last month's elections accused the former army strongman of destabilizing the country with military operations against militants near the Afghan border and even suggested that rogue forces were trying to undermine Pakistan's return to democracy.
"He has carried out indiscriminate operations in the tribal areas that have opened up new fault lines in Pakistani society," said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the party set to partner with Bhutto's in the new government. "Unless he resigns, there will always be a cause for all these groups to carry on these activities."
Yesterday's blasts happened about 15 minutes apart in different districts of Lahore. The first tore the facade from the seven-story Federal Investigation Agency building as staff were beginning their work day.
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