Pak Army launches offensive in South Waziristan even as spate of suicide attacks lead to massive loss of live across Pakistan; 19 killed in Lahore, 15 in Peshawar, 41 in Mingora;
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    • Even as the Taliban stepped up suicide attacks across the country, the Pakistan Army launched a renewed military assault against it in South Waziristan, killing at least 60 militants. The Taliban put up heavy resistance with rockets and other sophisticated weapons.1 The Taliban had launched multiple suicide attacks on October 16 in Lahore which claimed 19 lives, including several security personnel. The building of the federal investigations office in the city was among the first targets to be attacked, where terrorists opened indiscriminate fire killing 6 people.2 A day later on October 17, at least 15 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack at the office of the Special Investigation Unit of the Peshawar police, which is located close to a military establishment.3 Earlier on October 12 in Mingora, a suicide bomber killed 41 people, majority of them civilians.4

    Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi meanwhile, amidst mounting criticism by opposition parties over the Kerry-Lugar bill, went to the US to discuss its provisions. The US on its part stated that it was willing to address Pakistani concerns but added that its provisions would not be reviewed under any circumstances. The visiting US Democratic Senator John Kerry met with Foreign Minister Qureshi and told him that any “misinterpretation” would “simply have to be clarified” and added that nothing in the bill compromises Pakistan’s sovereignty.5

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