Pakistani Army officers have been ordered to avoid wearing uniforms in public and to adopt civilian vehicle number plates as suicide bombers step up their attacks on the military.

A lone bomber killed at least seven people yesterday after blowing himself up a quarter of a mile from President Musharraf’s office in Rawalpindi.General Musharraf, who has survived three assassination attempts, was discussing Pakistan’s internal security with senior government officials when the bomber – on foot – was stopped at a police checkpoint.

Pakistan has been rocked by an escalating number of suicide attacks on military targets and political rallies before crucial elections. As many as 40 attacks have been carried out this year, more than any other country except Iraq. Two thirds of the attacks have been aimed at the military.

More than 700 people have been killed and 14,000 wounded. The deadliest were the twin suicide attacks on Benazir Bhutto’s motorcade that killed at least 140 and wounded hundreds of others this month. Security officials blamed Islamic militants linked to al-Qaeda.

Bhutto was killed by bomb blast

The team from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command have backed the claim that Benazir Bhutto was not shot

Multimedia

• Pictures: death of Benazir Bhutto

• Pictures: Pakistan

BACKGROUND

• Pakistan in turmoil as ‘martial law’ imposed

• Bhutto escapes as bombers kill 126

• Timeline: Pakistan's period of turmoil

• The man out to oust a President

• Internal crisis gives Pakistan reason for hope

Related Links

• Bhutto defies Taliban threats to visit family shrine

• A history of trouble in the NW Frontier

Terrorist attacks have risen sharply since the raid by army special forces on the radical Red Mosque in Islama-bad in July that killed more than 100 people. More than 250 soldiers have been killed in such “revenge” attacks.

Yesterday’s attack came as thousands of Pakistani troops fought followers of a radical pro-Taleban Islamic cleric in northwestern Pakistan. More than 60 militants and many soldiers have been killed over four days of fighting.

Once a favourite destination for tourists attracted by its Buddhist heritage, the scenic Swat valley has turned into a new front line in Pakistan’s campaign against Islamic extremists. The Government last week dispatched an extra 2,500 troops to crush the rebels led by Maulana Fazlullah, a firebrand pro-Taleban cleric whose forces have killed more than 100 soldiers, mostly in suicide attacks, over the past three months.

Highly trained militants with machineguns and rocket launchers guard the approach to a seminary in Imam Dehri that is also Mr Fazlullah’s headquarters. Cocking his automatic rifle, a young fighter looked warily at the military helicopter hovering over the village, covered by fruit orchards, on the banks of Swat river.

The thunder of mortars fired by the government security forces on the surrounding mountain tops echoed through the valley. “We are not afraid of them. We will slaughter them if the government soldiers dare to attack us,” said Khalilullah, a burly man in his mid-twenties.

Tension has mounted after militants beheaded seven soldiers and six other men suspected to be government spies on Friday. The cleric, who is known as Mullah Radio for his fiery speeches broadcast from an illegal FM radio station, has developed a large following in Pashtun areas bordering Afghanistan. He declared a jihad against General Musharraf’s Government after the Red Mosque raid.

Maulana Sirajuddin, a deputy to Mr. Fazlullah, has given warning of more suicide attacks if the army operation is not stopped. “We will also use women bombers against the military installation,” he said.

Shelling started as he spoke to The Times in his hideout. He claimed to have 2,000 guerrillas ready to wage a protracted war. “They cannot defeat us,” he said as he rushed out to talk to his commanders. The clashes in Swat have raised fears that the Islamic militants who exert virtual control in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal belt bordering Afghanistan have spread their influence into the rest of the country. Analysts said violence also added to the political turmoil in Pakistan.

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