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| Suicide attack at Pak army camp after fresh army offensive | | | Islamabad | Jan 7
Three soldiers were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up today near an army base camp in Pakistan's restive northwestern Swat region where security forces have launched a fresh offensive against pro-Taliban militants.
The suicide attacker detonated his explosives when he was stopped at a check post near the army camp at Kabal town in the Swat valley. Three soldiers at the check post received minor injuries, military spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad said.
Arshad said the alertness of the troops and precautions taken by the army had prevented any major damage being caused by the suicide bomber.
Asked if the army was apprehensive about more such attacks, he said: "It's a terrorist act, and such acts have taken place earlier and they will perhaps be taking place later on."
The suicide attack occurred shortly before journalists were to be briefed at the base camp on the ongoing operation by senior army officials.
Maulana Fazlullah, the radical cleric who leads the militants in Swat, has called on his followers to target security personnel after the army yesterday launched a fresh offensive against rebel strongholds near Matta town.
Fazlullah, known as "Mullah Radio" for his sermons advocating jehad broadcast from an illegal FM station, also called leaders of the ruling PML-Q the "sons of US President George W Bush" and described the supporters of President Pervez Musharraf as "enemies of Islam".
The radical cleric made a radio broadcast yesterday after a break of two weeks and urged the militants to target the security forces.
"Do not be discouraged or be frightened. Wherever you see 10 to 20 security personnel, go ahead and kill them," said Fazlullah, who has been spearheading a campaign to enforce Shariat or Islamic law in the Swat valley of North West Frontier Province. |
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