Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for Lahore blast
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Pakistani Taliban took the responsibility of the deadly blast on Monday morning in the eastern city of Lahore, in which 13 people killed and over 60 injured, sources said.
Two militants group, Tehreek-e-Islami, a branch of the banned outfit Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Al-Qaeda aljehad Punjab masterminded the attack at a police interrogation building in Lahore, said sources who have contacts with the Taliban.
The organization have distributed brochures and CDs containing information of their agenda in Punjab, locals said. Suspected Taliban militants attacked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building in Lahore in October 2009.
Earlier, private TV channels reported that Home Department of Punjab has informed the Punjab government and police authorities through a circular dated March 4, saying that terrorist could attack some buildings of intelligence agencies in Lahore. But the police officials didn't take it seriously, said the reports.
Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik blamed the Taliban militants for the Lahore attack and said they have moved to cities after facing defeat in tribal regions and Swat valley.
Malik said that foreign hand involvement in the blast could not be ruled out, adding that it is in the last incidents of terrorists attacks as their network has been weakened.
The minister further said that rented terrorist are bent upon destabilizing Pakistan and the weapons are being supplied from Afghanistan into Pakistan.
Taliban militants are battling a Pakistani military offensive in the lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan, and in retaliation they attacked security personnel and government installations.
The rugged tribal region becomes a stronghold of Al-Qaeda fighters, who fled U.S.-led NATO forces offensive in the neighboring Afghanistan.
