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| Foreigners die in Pakistan blast | Foreigners die in Pakistan blast |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Three Westerners are among at least 10 people killed in an attack on a convoy heading to a girls' school in north-west Pakistan, officials have said. | Three Westerners are among at least 10 people killed in an attack on a convoy heading to a girls' school in north-west Pakistan, officials have said. |
| At least 70 people, including 63 school girls, were injured as the convoy was hit as it passed another girls' school in Lower Dir, near the Afghan border. | At least 70 people, including 63 school girls, were injured as the convoy was hit as it passed another girls' school in Lower Dir, near the Afghan border. |
| The attack comes amid a major government offensive against Taliban militants in the area. | The attack comes amid a major government offensive against Taliban militants in the area. |
| The Taliban has frequently targeted markets, schools and security agencies. | The Taliban has frequently targeted markets, schools and security agencies. |
| The BBC's Mark Dummett, in Islamabad, says the convoy of journalists and aid workers - led by a detachment of soldiers - was heading to the inauguration ceremony of a newly-built girls' school. | The BBC's Mark Dummett, in Islamabad, says the convoy of journalists and aid workers - led by a detachment of soldiers - was heading to the inauguration ceremony of a newly-built girls' school. |
| But the blast occurred near a different school in Koto, a heavily populated village along the route, our correspondent says. | But the blast occurred near a different school in Koto, a heavily populated village along the route, our correspondent says. |
| At least three of the dead were school girls, police said, adding that security guards and three local journalists were also among the wounded. | At least three of the dead were school girls, police said, adding that security guards and three local journalists were also among the wounded. |
| There are conflicting reports about the identity of the foreigners and their reasons for being in the area. | |
| School targets | School targets |
| RECENT ATTACKS ON FOREIGNERS October 2009: Suicide bomber attacks UN offices in Islamabad, killing five people including a foreignerSeptember 2009: Truck bomber kills at least 54 people including foreigners at the Marriott Hotel in IslamabadJune 2009: Foreigners among at least 18 people killed in suicide attack blamed on the Taliban on Pearl Continental hotelMarch 2009: Bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket team is attacked in Lahore, injuring seven players and killing five Pakistani policemenMarch 2008: A Turkish woman is killed and several foreigners are injured in a bomb attack on an Italian restaurant in Islamabad | |
| The convoy was on its way to Maidan, an area of Lower Dir district in North-West Frontier Province, which is the base of a pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad, and a stronghold of Taliban militants. | The convoy was on its way to Maidan, an area of Lower Dir district in North-West Frontier Province, which is the base of a pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad, and a stronghold of Taliban militants. |
| Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has condemned the attack and ordered an investigation, the AFP news agency reports. | Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has condemned the attack and ordered an investigation, the AFP news agency reports. |
| The Taliban has frequently targeted girls' schools in recent years, burning several to the ground. | The Taliban has frequently targeted girls' schools in recent years, burning several to the ground. |
| The school that was due to re-open had only recently been re-built with foreign aid after being blown up by militants in January 2009, AFP said citing a local police official. | The school that was due to re-open had only recently been re-built with foreign aid after being blown up by militants in January 2009, AFP said citing a local police official. |
| Last year, the Pakistani army carried out a major offensive to drive Taliban insurgents out of Lower Dir and the neighbouring districts of Swat and Buner, but they are still present in remote areas, our correspondent says. | Last year, the Pakistani army carried out a major offensive to drive Taliban insurgents out of Lower Dir and the neighbouring districts of Swat and Buner, but they are still present in remote areas, our correspondent says. |
| The latest attack shows that the Taliban remains a powerful force in the region, despite the government's efforts to push them back, he adds. | The latest attack shows that the Taliban remains a powerful force in the region, despite the government's efforts to push them back, he adds. |
| Hundreds of people have died and several thousand displaced by the fighting. | Hundreds of people have died and several thousand displaced by the fighting. |
| Many of the girls' school in the region that were destroyed by militants are now being rebuilt. | Many of the girls' school in the region that were destroyed by militants are now being rebuilt. |
| Are you in the Lower Dir district? Did you witness the attack? Send us your comments | |
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