Five Injured in Terrorist Attack on Pakistan Airport as Anti-Terror Talks Are Set for March

A suicide bomber detonated a bomb in the parking area of the international airport in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, killing himself, seriously wounding a security guard, and injuring at least five people in total. The security guard who was seriously injured had stopped the bomber, who as on foot, as he tried to enter the airport. The terrorist detonated the bomb following a brief exchange of gunfire with the security guard.

The Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao and the security official who exchanged gunfire with the terrorist confirmed to the Associated Press (AP) that this was a suicide bombing. Sherpao stated that two accomplices of the bomber were arrested.

Among the other injured were two policemen. One was wounded by gunfire and the other was injured in the blast. CNN has reported that ambulances took five injured people to hospitals.

Police sealed off the airport shortly following the terrorist attack. Delays for flights arriving at and departing from the Pakistani international airport were expected according to an aviation official, reports Reuters UK.

Suicide attacks have plagued Pakistan in recent weeks. On January 26, a suicide bomber killed himself and a security guard and injured seven people at Islamabad's Marriott Hotel. According to CNN, the AP reports that today's blast at the Pakistani airport follows a number of suicide attacks on security forces in northwestern Pakistan. Northwestern Pakistan is a current site of pro-Taliban militant activity.

Reuters reports that some analysts have speculated that the recent suicide attacks have been in revenge for a recent Pakistani military air strike. The Pakistani military made an air strike on an Islamist militant camp in the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border. This attack, which occurred just a month ago, killed up to 20 people.

In a related story, it was announced today that Islamabad will be the site a joint anti-terrorism panel in March. The panel will be held on March 6 and will include a three-member Indian delegation headed by a senior diplomat according to the Indian foreign ministry, reports Reuters. These Pakistani-Indian talks will be the first to occur following the deadly bombings in Mumbai in July. Indian police blamed the Mumbai bombings on Pakistan's spy agency.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars and continue to have disputes over the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Reuters reports that an anti-India insurgency has killed tens of thousands in this region since 1989. Some Indian analysts have low expectations from the joint anti-terror panel.

Sources:
Associated Press. Februray 6, 2007. Suicide bombing at Islamabad airport, security official seriously wounded. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070206-0852-pakistan-airportblast.html. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
Reuters UK. Februray 6, 2007. Bomber killed, 2 police hurt in Pakistan blast. http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L06842211&WTmodLoc=World-R5-Alertnet-3. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
CNN.com. Februray 6, 2007. Suicide bomber rocks Islamabad airport. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/02/06/pakistan.airport.blast/. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
Reuters. Februray 6, 2007. India, Pakistan to hold terrorism talks in March. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL170245.htm. Retrieved February 6, 2007.