Pakistani Taliban accepts responsibility for Mardan suicide attack

Peshawar May 19 : Pakistani Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for a weekend suicide attack in Mardan city in North West Frontier Province in which 13 people lost their lives.

They said that it was carried out for a suspected United States (US) drone attack on a rebel hideout last week.

"Our local Taliban leaders in Mardan have telephoned us and claimed responsibility for the attack," said Maulvi Omar, the spokesman for Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistan Taliban Movement).

"The Mardan attack was in reaction to Damadola," he added, referring to a missile strike last week in which 14 people were killed in Bajaur tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

he Pakistani military has filed a complaint over the violation of its territorial sovereignty and has blamed US -led coalition forces for launching missile attacks from a pilotless drone in Afghanistan.

ANI