5 April 2010 North-West Frontier Province attacks

Preceding events

A suicide attack at a political rally in Timergarah preceded the Peshawar Bombings. The suicide attacker detonated a bomb near the stage built for the organized celebrations. At least 46 people have died.

Attacks

The American consulate attack killed 8 people including 2 security service personnel.

Hours earlier 44 people died in a suicide attack at a rally in the north-western town of Timergara, Lower Dir District, during a meeting of the Awami National Party (ANP), the ruling coalition in North West Frontier Province. Zahid Khan, an Awami National Party spokesperson, said his party were celebrating plans to change the name of the North West Frontier Province when a suspected suicide bomber detonated his explosives. An official of the ruling ANP party, Hashim Khan Babar, told the media the attacks appeared to be in response to a major security operation which was launched in the Orakzai tribal region near Peshawar last week.

Perpetrators

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attacks in a telephone release by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Azam Tariq, with the statement "We accept the attacks on the American consulate. This is revenge for drone attacks. We have already told you that we have 2,800 to 3,000 fedayeen (suicide bombers). We will carry out more such attacks. We will target any place where there are Americans" The attack was revenge for Drone attacks in Pakistan.

A BBC analyst said the Pakistani Taliban were apparently aiming for a feat to match the one last December in Khost, Afghanistan, in which several American CIA officials were killed.

Repercussions

An analyst in the capital said that after the government war on the Taliban the militants spread into more settled areas. He added that "The American consulate is one of the most well-guarded places in Peshawar. It [the attack] was well planned and they very confidently hit their target." Al Jazeera's correspondent also noted that "Although they have been driven out of their strongholds in key areas, there is a feeling that a substantial number of those people have now infiltrated into the settled areas. There is trouble in the southern parts of the Punjab - so you do see some sort of regrouping attempt and a fear that there maybe an escalation of this sort of violence."

Reactions

The United States embassy in Pakistan released a statement condemning the attack and saying that it reflected the "terrorists' desperation". Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesmen, added: "We strongly condemn the violence and the actions. And I would point out that ... extremists in Pakistan have succeeded in killing Pakistanis, which I think hardens the view that has led to gains that have been made over the course of the year against extremism by native Pakistanis."

References

References

1. AP. (April 5, 2010). "U.S. consulate in Peshawar attacked". The Hindu }}{{dead link.
2. Khan, Ismail. (2010-04-05). "U.S. Consulate in Pakistan Is Attacked by Militants". [[The New York Times]].
3. (5 April 2010). "Explosions near U.S. consulate in Peshawar kill at least 8". CNN.
4. AFP. (5 April 2010). "Taliban claim attack on US consulate in Pak's Peshawar". Times of India.
5. (2010-04-05). "Explosions near U.S. consulate in Peshawar kill at least 6". [[CNN]].
6. (5 April 2010). "Taliban claims Peshawar attack". Al Jazeera.
7. Ali, Lehaz. (6 April 2010). "Pakistan attacks kill 46, target US consulate". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
8. (5 April 2010). "Multiple blasts rock Saddar area of Peshawar". Dawn.
9. (5 April 2010). "Attack on US consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan". BBC World.
10. (2010-04-05). "Statement: Terrorist Attack On U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar". Embassy of the United States in Islamabad, Pakistan.