US condemns Rawalpindi suicide attack

The United States has condemned the suicide bombing in Rawalpindi near the Pakistan Army headquarters, and offered deep condolences to families of the victims.

Washington, Oct 31 : The United States has condemned the suicide bombing in Rawalpindi near the Pakistan Army headquarters, and offered deep condolences to families of the victims.

"We offer our condolences to families of victims and stand united with the Pakistani people in ridding the country of violent extremism," an official at the State Department said.

The official said that Pakistan's efforts to fight terrorism is causing the militants to step up violence, and added that the US does not see a sudden increase in violent attacks as a sign of Islamabad's failure in tackling militancy.

"We appreciate the continued efforts and sacrifices of the Pakistani military to eliminate terrorist threats," said the official.

The official, who did not want to be identified because this was, an off-the-record briefing, said: "We continue to work together with Pakistan to combat violent extremism."

The official disagreed with the suggestion that such attacks indicated that the government was losing its grip over the situation.

The US government, the official said, views the situation differently.

"If the terrorists are feeling pressure, what option they have other than to ratchet up the fear factor by increasing violent attacks? They must be feeling the pressure of what the government of Pakistan is doing, otherwise why would they be reacting this way?"

Earlier, at least eight people died and 22 others injured in a suicide attack on Tuesday that took place very close to the office of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

The suicide bomber blew himself up at a police checkpoint, as he tried to sneak into the highly secure campus of the Pakistan Army.

ANI