Suicide bombings

Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Two suicide bombers struck this week within a mile of the Pakistani Military Headquarters, where President Pervez Musharraf lives. The first bomber blew up a bus and the second detonated himself in a market. At least 24 people, mostly Defense Ministry workers, were killed. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Pakistani newspapers blamed insurgents from the Taliban-influenced tribal areas near Afghanistan. A non-aggression pact between the Pakistani military and the tribes broke down this summer after the tribes failed to stop Taliban and al Qaida activity in their territories. But some analysts said the perpetrators could be Islamist extremists angry at the military assault on the Red Mosque in Islamabad in July.