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The motorcycle-borne bomber detonated his explosives outside a state-run bank, causing considerable damage to the facade of Shalimar Hotel on Mall Road, less than a kilometre from the army's fortified General Headquarters that was besieged by a group of terrorists nearly a month ago.
Rescue service officials put the death toll at 34 while police said 45 injured were taken to nearby hospitals.
Many people, including pensioners, who had come to the National Bank to collect their salaries and pensions were among those killed and injured in the blast that occurred at 10.40 am.
Police officials said the suicide bomber blew himself up outside the bank when police teams tried to intercept him.
Witnesses said at least two military police personnel, five women and several private security guards and passers-by were killed.
Several army officers' messes, sensitive military installations and other hotels are located near Shalimar Hotel. Military police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off the area and diverted traffic from the road in front of the hotel.
Ambulances rushed bodies and the injured to hospitals, where an emergency was declared.
Several cars and motorcycles parked outside the hotel and the bank were damaged by the explosion, which also shattered the windows of nearby buildings.
Zahid Dara, who witnessed the attack, told reporters: "I fell off my motorcycle when the blast occurred. People began running helter-skelter in panic... I saw the blast had occurred outside the hotel, near which there are several banks, travel agencies and other offices".
Dara said he had seen private security guards and army personnel among the dead and injured.
"Several people in cars that were passing the hotel were also killed," he said.
The attack came nearly a month after an audacious terrorist strike on the General Headquarters in which 14 people were killed before most of the attackers were gunned down by army commandos.
The attackers had also taken nearly 50 people hostage in an office of the Military Intelligence agency.
All schools in Rawalpindi were closed soon after the attack.
Pakistan has witnessed a series of deadly suicide attacks and bombings over the past few weeks that have killed hundreds of people.
Nearly 120 people, mostly women and children, were killed in a car bomb attack in a commercial hub in Peshawar last week.
Most of the attacks have been claimed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, against whom the army has launched a major offensive in the lawless South Waziristan tribal region.
The military says nearly 310 militants and about 35 soldiers have died so far in fighting in the area bordering Afghanistan.
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howevermuch one feels for the innocent pakistani civilians it is important to bear in mind in INDIA that unfortunately the brainwashing of pakistanis by its govt
Like the case of Bangladesh in 1971, India must not remain silent spectator and let the civil war happen in Pakistan. At this stage it is the rigt time that India ivades the Pakistan,free her people from the clutches of Army generals and feudal politicians. It is said that the present PM of Pakistan Mr. Gilani has wast swath of agri land in Sindh where are two railway station falling in his estate. India with should take the charge of Pak nukes which were aquired clandstinely from China and North Korea.
Rapid fire suicide bombings in Pakistan on civilians are shocking beyond words. Loss of innocent lives is heart rending. Our sincere sympathies are with the innocent victims. The common people of Pakistan have been undergoing untold hardships because of the mistakes of their own rulers. Pakistan government should get rid of its old habit of blaming India for everything that goes wrong in Pakistan and instead conserve all its energy and resources for fighting and eradicating the terror let loose by misguided elements.
After deadly attacks as this, the dressing down from best friends America and threats from India, Zardari, Gilani, the army chief and the ISI chief have their tails under and between their legs. The Pakis are stuck in a stinking quagmire of their own making. It is high time the Pakis got sensible, put an end to all their rot, particularly their corrupton and terrorism, and honestly and in a civilised way, went after seeking genuine peace, especially with India . There is no salvation for the Pakis if they don't give up their dirty ways and show to the world that they can be trusted. People with character have to come to the fore and take charge of the government and the army. At the moment, nuclear armed Pak is at the edge and the danger of going over and down the precipice and endangering world peace and security, looks imminent. That must be halted in everyone's interest - the interest of the Pakis, their neighbours and of the world.
At last pakis are getting back what they have sowed. you shall reap what you sow. it is just matter of months or ayear before pak goes down in the arabian sea. thank you paks.
It is very unfortunate that civilians have to pay the price of their leaders' failed policies. From the day India and Pakistan were separated, Pakistan's main objective was to undermine India's progress by waging wars and encouraging terrorists to launch attacks in India. Pakistani leaders never had a vision of independent self sufficient Pakistan. Pakistan has a long history of killing their own leaders. It is unfortunate that nothing can be done about this failed country. The most worrying part is Pakistan has nukes, which can easily fall in the hands of terrorists. Pakistani leaders will not hesitate a bit for their own existence to let Taliban/Al-Qaida control their nukes.
It is so sad and heart wrenching to see poor people being mowed down, by, down right mad Mullahs Mouths and Jahadies bombs. It is time for India to help Pakistan civil goverment in bringing down these,Lunatic Fringe," to justice.No help from other country will stop this menace, except India, after all they are the people of same soil.Love of soil is more then any money or mad sermons can buy.All peace loving Pakistan should be given shelter, if and when they need it, "IN INDIA."
Seems to me India already sheltered hundred of millions in 1947 and is still trying to assimilate and adjust. Time to look after our own first.
We have to be thankful to the Army, the Pakistan Army not the Indian Army, that they are not only uprooting Talebans of Pakistan they are struggling to keep al Qaeda within Afghan borders. Just imagine for a moment if this buffer of present day Pakistan is eliminated by these extremists and Pakistan is taken over by them. Just imagine PM Manmohan Singh offering Osama bin ladin to resume dialogue for peace. Just imagine Hafiz Saeed sitting in the prseidency in Islamabad. Horrible. Isnt it?
My tears and sympathies lie with the innocent people who were killed In the name of 'whatever name you give" It is sad that the fights between two are more parties who are committed to their ideologies results in death of people who have no connection with their differences.
It might come as a shock but India, particularly Congress, is responsible for this distruction in South Asia. The minority appeasement, ceasefire in Kashmir, no action on illegal Tibetan occupation and Chinese grab of Indian territory, illegal Bangladeshis and look at Manmohan Singh, thoroughly pro Pakistan. If India had asserted itself, like US, in 1947 Wahabi Islam would not have come to Pakistan. But my friends for those people who are weeping for Pakistans killed by Pakistanis, remember, you are the next. A giant country, India, behaved like a midget, appeasing, trying to please, cringing and cowering. This post may not appear but Indian media has never published the truth.
Seems the editor of comments overlooked your comment.otherwise indian journalists dont have enough courage to publish truth
i felt very sad when i heard this news.i dn't understand what they have gotten after this blast.definitely pak gov should fight like this for better tomorrows.my hearty condolence to all victims family members.
Pakistan is just having the bitter taste of its own medicine. There is no need for such sympathies. Pakistan was in all glee when our men were killed by their butchers. They ridiculed our martyrs and taunted us. Now its their turn to face the heat. One who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.
This time pakistan must engage to elliminate all terrorists in all forms present in kashimir border or swat border including Dawood etc,.If not elliminated, then time is not far , Pak shall be soon a failed state like Somalia.
The dance of death unleshed by Talibab in Pakistan is worrisom for whole of the world. UN must take the charge.
Pakistan is at cross roads, and its future depends much on what the present day rulers do to counter the tide of violence that country is gripped in. And, it will have a definet bearing on the future of INDIA and the world. If the world sees this as a local issue the losses that the world will face will be immense and the problem is no more a Kashmir centric one, it is much wider and much deeper. Any laxity on the part of the present rulers of that country will be catastrophic and irreversible.And, as made-out by some people in Pakistan, this problem Pakistan is facing now can not be solved by arming Pakistan or by forcing INDIA to concede Kashmir.
The news that there is a blast in Rawalpinidi yet again saddens me and I am sure any human being. And, a situation of this kind is not good to India at all. Hope the tide will be turned against this violence sooner than later.
Pak Govt. was seeking a certificate of appreciation from Hillary a week ago for its performance in war against terror ! Its poetic justice that the terrorist gave Pak Govt. a certificate of another kind by this blast.
At this rate, I'll give Pakistan between 4-6 months before it finally breaks up and descends into a spree of senseless violence and mayhem.
It is now several decades that pakis resorted to swords, grenades, bombs, guns etc., and is now being perished by the swords. It should be an eye opener to the pakis to believe in the EXISTENCE OF GOD., and try to eradicate terrorists, and become civilized human beings. Look, in India, children are taught to love their country, taught to love all their countrymen as brothers and sisters; taught to be proud of their nation's rich and varied heritage; taught to show respect to their parents, teachers and all elders; taught to treat everyone with courtesy; and also taught to be happy in the well-being and prosperity of their fellow citizens.
So, the bonhomie hasnt ended as yet and will continue for some more time i guess!!! These people never understood the meanin of Islamic terrorism and laughed at India's apathy.....I will like to recall to these Pakis,"Whatever goes round comes around!!!"
Well Done Therike Taliban Pakistan. Keep it up. Its payback time for pakis
I think Paki land is having an early deepawali; good going. this way India's problem will be sought out by itself.