Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistani Taliban blow up state-radio in tribal region

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 3, IRNA -- Pakistan Taliban have blown up building of state-run radio in the country’s tribal region and have taken away all its equipment, officials and locals said Friday.

Taliban stormed the radio building in Wana, the center of South Waziristan, early morning and blew up it with explosives.

Transmission of the radio suspended after the attack, locals said.

No one was hurt as the building was empty at the time of the blast.

Taliban also blew up the check post of security forces near the radio building.

Locals said it was the third attack on the Wana radio station. It was first attacked in 2004, shortly after it was launched, which led to suspension of its transmission. The station was again attacked in 2006, suspending transmission for a few weeks.

Officials said that armed militants surrounded the radio building late last night, broke its doors and took away all equipment.

Later the armed men exploded two bombs in the building, destroying two rooms. Later the militants blew up a nearby check post, which was built recently. The check post was empty at the time of the attack.

According to officials, the armed men vacated the radio building from local security militia and later exploded the building.

The radio had six-and-half-hour transmission in local Pashto language and had been airing sports and news about regional developments. The radio had stopped news and music programmes two year ago after Taliban’s threats.

There had been no radio in the area before this radio was launched. The U.S forces have launched a radio in Paktiya province, which borders South Waziristan. The U.S radio is listening in Waziristan.