Pakistan Bombers Kill Despite Crackdown

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 24, 2007 — -- A day after Pakistan's highest court ruled that emergency rule was "necessary" to thwart terrorism, twin suicide bombs exploded in Rawalpindi, the seat of military power in Pakistan.

The military confirmed 15 people had died, but there were unofficial reports that dozens were killed. Many were critically injured in the blasts.

The attacks were clearly aimed at the military. The explosions occurred Saturday morning within minutes of one another. One of the suicide bombers drove into a bus packed with Ministry of Defense employees assigned to the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency. Another suicide bomber struck a checkpoint at the Army's headquarters.

The Army blocked traffic on the major street where the bus bombing occurred and cordoned off the area around the checkpoint. Members of the media were prevented from filming scenes of the attacks, and authorities confiscated cameras.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad told the Associated Press, "There were 50 people sitting in the bus. Many are injured, many are okay."

These are the first suicide bombings since Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, placed the country under emergency rule on Nov. 3.

Part of Musharraf's justification for the emergency action is that the country is under threat of violent extremism, but critics have said that is an excuse for cracking down on thousands of his political opponents. While the bombings may lend credence to Musharraf's assertion about the threat of terrorism, others say the incidents weaken his argument for maintaining emergency rule.

"As far as the fight against terror is concerned, this emergency makes not the slightest difference," said former Pakistani diplomat Humanyun Khan. "That is clear now."

There have been more than 25 suicide attacks in Pakistan since July, several of them aimed at the military.

The latest bombings occurred on the eve of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan. Sharif, who was arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia after he tried to enter Pakistan in September, is said to have struck a deal with Saudi King Abdullah that will allow his return.