Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, was rocked by two simultaneous suicide bomb blasts carried out by the Pakistan Taliban. The attacks targeted an Islamic university and killed six people while injuring 20 others. For the last two weeks, Taliban has intensified its terror campaign throughout Pakistan, carrying out numerous attacks on Pakistani security establishments. However, today’s attack is the first of its kind, where an educational institution has been the target of the militants. The Islamist university is considered to be liberal in nature with more than 12,000 students, mostly of whom are women, including foreign students.

In related news, the offensive against the Taliban in the South Waziristan region, seems to be turning in the favor of the militants, as just before the university attack, Taliban regained control of the strategic town, Kotkai, that had been taken over by the Pakistani military on Monday. The town is known to be the birthplace of the Pakistan Taliban’s chief, Hakimullah Mehsud. The town of Kokai is considered crucial to the military offensive, as this town leads to the center of the militant region.

According to Rehman Malik (Interior Minister, Pakistan),

“All roads are leading toward South Waziristan. Those who attacked the university have shown that they are neither friends of Islam nor of Pakistan. Those carrying out this aggression are just testing nerves of our nation.”

Since the beginning of the military offensive in South Waziristan on October 13th, more than 26,000 people have fled the region, apart from the 100,000 residents who had already fled the region, fearing the intense clashes between the army and the militants. As per estimates released by the Pakistani Army, almost 200,000 civilians are expected to be displaced during the offensive campaign.

Via Reuters.