Taliban warns of surge in suicide attacks in Pakistan

Amid a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan, the Taliban today warned that they will increase suicide attacks across the country if the government does not review its policies.

Qari Hussain, the trainer of suicide bombers and spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsood, challenged the government to stop the wave of suicide attacks if it could.

Hussain also claimed responsibility for yesterday’s suicide attacks on the headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence agency in Peshawar and a police station in Bannu district. Twenty people were killed and 85 injured in these attacks.

The Taliban targeted the ISI office as intelligence agencies have a major role in policy-making by the government, Hussain told BBC Urdu. "These attacks are a reaction to the military operation in Waziristan and Pakistan’s help in the anti-terror campaign," he said.

Referring to the military operation underway in South Waziristan, Hussain said Taliban fighters had retreated under a strategy. "The strategy is aimed at saving our manpower and weapons for guerrilla war in the region," he said.

The Taliban will soon launch a guerrilla war against the Pakistan Army in South Waziristan, he said.  The army claims it has killed over 500 militants since the operation was launched nearly a month ago.