Islamist militants armed with guns, grenades and suicide car bombs targeted the US consulate in Pakistan northwestern capital yesterday and hit a political rally, killing 46 people.
The attacks in quick succession were among the deadliest so far this year in nuclear-armed Pakistan, where insecurity has raised concerns in the United States as Washington steps up the fight in Afghanistan and against al-Qaeda.
Pakistan Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan TTP) claimed responsibility for the consulate attack, claiming it was to avenge a US drone war targeting top militants in Pakistan border areas with Afghanistan, and threatened further assaults on Americans.