42 troops martyred in worst terror attack

DARGAI—At least 42 soldiers were killed in a suicide attack and 33 others injured at an army training center in Dargai, north-western district of Malakand on Wednesday, as officials linked the attack an act of vengeance for the late week air strike on a seminary in Bajur Agency killing 83 persons.
Meanwhile Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani confirmed, “Forty-two recruits died in the attack and 20 others are hospitalized”. The blast, the most serious militant attack against the military, occurred at about 08:40 a.m Wednesday when recruits had gathered in Punjab Regiment training ground at Dargai.
Tehsil Nazim Dargai Fida Muhammad told details of the incident that two unidentified motorcyclist entered in the military compound and one among them rushed to the training ground and blew himself killing 25 soldiers on the spot and injuring scores of other. The injured were admitted at hospitals of Mardan, Peshawar, Mingora where 17 more soldiers succumbed to injuries as condition of several injured was stated to be critical.
Some sources also revealed that 14 injured were later shifted to CMH Rawalpindi from Mardan. The officials has released a list of 21 of those killed in the strike included Hajin Ali, Rahim Dil, Dilshad, Suleman, Waqar, Javed Ali, Waqas, Shakil, Mubin, Waqar Ali, Muaaf Ali, Rooh-ul-Ayat, Laal Din,Akmal, Asad Saeed, Niaz, Amir, Rafaqat, Adnan, Suleman, Arshad Abas and Nasir Earlier, an ISPR statement said 35 recruits were killed and score others injured in the deadliest suicide attack against the army.
The statement said a man wrapped in cloak (Chadar) around his body came running into the training area and exploded himself killing 35 soldiers and injuring few others. The ISPR Spokesman said the suicide bomber approximately 30 year old. “The army recruits had gathered to rest after finishing a training session when the bomber struck”, an eye witness said.
An accomplice of the suicide bomber was nabbed by the security forces while he was trying to escape. The suicide attack came nine days after security forces attacked a seminary in Bajur killing 83 persons. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The security has been put on high alert in NWFP after the attack. Federal Minister of Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao has condemned the attack and suspected it was probably linked to the Bajaur incident.
A security analyst said there was a general sense of alienation and anger with the government’s support for the United States in the tribal areas along the Afghan border.
“I think it is part of the overall alienation in the tribal areas and wherever they find an opportunity or a soft target, they hit,” said Talat Masood, a retired army general.
Federal Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan has said that the suicide attack could have link to Bajaur air raid as it was expected after the incident. Talking to a private TV channel he condemned the attack and said that suicide attacks were not in the interest of the country.
He said that 35 people had been killed and 20 more injured in the incident. The injured he said were shifted to different hospitals and the critically injured were flown to CMH Rawalpindi. Sherpao said that link of Dargai incident to Bajaur air strike could not be ruled out. “Several incidents could take place if Bajaur air strike was not carried out,” he noted. He said that miscreants wanted to sabotage peace in the country. He said they would not succeed in their nefarious designs.—Agencies