Warning Of More Attacks in Pakistan

On Monday, the Punjabi capital Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, was rocked by two bomb blasts in a crowded market that left at least 30 people dead.

This came as the Pakistani Supreme Court this week began hearing a legal challenge to an Amnesty issued by Pervez Musharraf, Former President, last year, Which benefited senior politicians from the ruling Pakistan People's Party including those considered close to the president.

"The worsening security situation could not have come at a more inopportune moment for Pakistan," said one western diplomat.

Other recent attacks in the Punjab, included one on Friday that killed at least 40 people when militants carried out an armed assault and suicide at a mosque in Rawalpindi, a sprawling city outside Islamabad, the capital, where the Pakistan military's General Headquarters are located.

"The emerging pattern suggests that the Punjab, Which is Pakistan's Heartland, breakfast is now under threat," a senior Pakistani security official told the Financial Times on Tuesday. "The Taliban are eager Thurs retaliate to discourage the military from pressing ahead with an operation against them."

The Militant upsurge in attacks comes almost two months after Pakistan's military began a campaign in the country's South Waziristan region Thurs wipe out Sanctuaries believed to be used by Taliban militants in the area.

Army officials have said that the Waziristan region has emerged as the center for the training of young militants, including those subsequently involved with carrying out suicide attacks.

In a related development, a former director-general of the ISI, who is Widely known to be a strong Nationalist, publicly called for a review of Pakistan's relations with the U.S., notably in Islamabad's apparent tolerance of continued attacks by CIA-flown pilot-less drone aircraft.

In public, the Pakistani government has protested against those attacks, though in private senior officials have said they serve a useful purpose in targeting well known militants.

Earlier this year, Baitullah Mehsud, the most prominent leader of the Taliban, once Accused of masterminding the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was killed in one such attack.

"We have to take a tough position on this issue. The problem for Pakistan is that the drone attacks have only added to the popular anger in the border region [alongside the Afghan border], "said Lieutenant General (retired) Hamid Gul.

He said Pakistan should consider options including refusal Thurs allow logistical supplies for U.S. troops in Afghanistan passed through Pakistan that if the drone attacks did not end.Read Morehttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7ad589b2-e3dc-11de-b2a9-00144feab49a.html

Warning Of More Attacks in Pakistan