Suicide bombing kills at least 22, wounds 45 in PakistanDecember 29, 2015 - 17:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a government office in a northwestern Pakistani city on Tuesday, December 29, killing at least 22 people and wounding 45. A breakaway Taliban group quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, the Associated Press reports. The bombing took place in the city of Mardan, outside the regional office of the National Database and Registration Authority, or NADRA, which issues identity cards to Pakistanis, according to senior police officer Saeed Khan Wazir. Wazir told the Associated Press that some of the wounded were in a critical condition. Shortly after the attack, a spokesman for the militant Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, Ahsanullah Ahsan, claimed responsibility for the bombing, calling it a "noble act to punish NADRA because it extends support to security forces." Ahsan spoke to the AP by phone from an undisclosed location. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar split from the main Pakistani Taliban group — the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP — two years ago following differences between the militant leadership. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the bombing and instructed authorities to provide the best possible treatment for the wounded. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |