The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility on Monday for the weekend siege on army headquarters and vowed to activate militant cells across the country for more attacks as an explosion in a market killed at least 41 people.
The blast in Shangla district — the fourth terrorist attack in just over a week — may have been a car bombing, police official Tahir Khan said.
Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq said the assault on army headquarters was only the first in a planned wave of strikes intended to avenge the killing of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud in August.
“This was our first small effort and a present to the Pakistani and American governments,” he said.
Pakistan jets blast Taliban bases
Pakistani jets pounded Taliban sanctuaries after a dramatic hostage siege at the army headquarters, as the military geared up on Monday for a full ground assault to take on the increasingly brazen rebels.