Car Bomb in Pakistan Market Kills 105

Attack Targets Women and Children in Peshawar as Secretary Clinton Visits Country

(CBS/ AP)  Updated at 2:10 a.m. EDT

Suspected militants exploded a car bomb in a market crowded with women and children Wednesday, killing 105 people and turning shops selling wedding dresses, toys and jewelry into a mass of burning debris and bodies.

The attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar was Pakistan's deadliest since 2007 and came as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the country to offer support for its fight against a strengthening al Qaeda and Taliban-led insurgency based along the Afghan border.

Clinton was three hours' drive away in the capital meeting Pakistani government leaders when the bomb went off in Peshawar. Her trip was not announced in advance in Pakistan for security reasons.

The bomb was directed squarely at civilians, unlike many previous blasts that have targeted security forces or government or Western interests. While no one claimed responsibility, the bomb appeared aimed at undercutting public and political support for an ongoing army offensive against militants close to the frontier and showing that the government was unable to keep its people safe.

The shaky, U.S.-backed government said the bombing - the latest in a series this month - had strengthened its resolve to press ahead with the assault in the South Waziristan border region, a militant stronghold and a global training and operations hub for al Qaeda.

At least 60 of the dead were women and children. Most security analysts said the attack could backfire on the insurgents and lead more people to inform on them.

"He who kills a Muslim has no place but hell," said Mumtaz Ali, a wounded 19-year-old who was studying in a Muslim school attached to a mosque that was damaged in the attack. "We are taught the way of the prophet. We are not taught to kill innocent people."

The U.S. believes fighting the insurgents on the frontier is vital to defeating extremism in Pakistan as well as in Afghanistan, where Taliban militants with links to those in Pakistan are waging an ever more violent campaign against American and NATO troops.

Underlining the threat in both nations, Taliban militants in suicide vests stormed a guest house used by U.N. staff in the heart of the Afghan capital on Wednesday, killing 11 people - six of them U.N. staff, including one American.

The bombing just before 1:15 p.m. destroyed much of the Mina Bazaar in Peshawar's old town, a warren of narrow alleys clogged with stalls, shops and food sellers. The district drew mostly poor female shoppers and their children in this conservative city.

Fire swept through the area after the blast, sending a cloud of gray smoke into the air.

The wounded sat amid burning debris and parts of bodies. Men tried to pull survivors from beneath wreckage. One carried away a baby with a bloody face and a group of men rescued a young boy covered in dust, but others found only bodies of the dead.

"My son died here," one man cried.

A two-story building collapsed as firefighters doused it with water, causing more panic. Several hours later, people were still searching the debris for loved ones.

"There was a deafening sound, and I was like a blind man for a few minutes," said Mohammad Usman, who was wounded in the shoulder. "I heard women and children crying and started to help others. There was the smell of human flesh in the air."

Police officer Khan Abbas said the death toll rose to 105 after three bodies were recovered from the debris and two of the more than 200 wounded died overnight.

Clinton was a few hours into her first visit to Pakistan as secretary of state when the bomb exploded.

"I want you to know this fight is not Pakistan's alone," she said at a news conference that many Pakistani TV stations broadcast alongside images of burning buildings and wounded victims. "These extremists are committed to destroying what is dear to us as much as they are committed to destroying that which is dear to you and to all people. So this is our struggle as well."

Standing beside her, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the attack would not break the government's will.

"The resolve and determination will not be shaken," Qureshi said. "People are carrying out such heinous crimes. They want to shake our resolve. I want to address them: We will not buckle. We will fight you."

Clinton's three-day visit is designed to get maximum public exposure to improve America's image in a country where many people dislike and distrust the United States.

Up to now as these bombings have increased most of Pakistan's anger has been directed at America, reports CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews The thinking goes: America pushed Pakistan into confronting the Taliban. The bombings are retaliation and now Pakistanis are literally dying by helping America's war.

Clinton is here to argue Pakistan would have been a target without America's involvement and is in the war mostly to defend itself, Andrews reports.

"It is also a conflict we believe Pakistan has to win for Pakistan's future," Clinton said.

She plans to meet with students, business leaders and opposition figures, as well as government and military leaders.

"It is fair to say there have been a lot of misconceptions about what the United States intends for our relationship with Pakistan," Clinton told reporters flying with her. "It is unfortunate there are those who question our motives. I want to clear the air."

Peshawar, the economic hub of the northwest and the seat of the provincial government, has long been a favorite target of militants who control large parts of nearby tribal regions near the Afghan border.

"This bomb carries great symbolic value," a security official in Peshawar told CBS News' Farhan Bokhari after the blast. "It is meant as much for Pakistani rulers as it is for U.S. leaders like Mrs. Clinton."

"The message to both parties (Pakistan and the U.S.) is, 'we remain strong'", said the official.

Extremism has flourished there since it was used as a staging ground in the 1980s for U.S.-funded fighters preparing to battle the Soviet-installed regime in Afghanistan.

The attack brought the death toll from militant bombings or commando-style raids to more than 300 in October alone.

Three blasts have taken place in Peshawar, including another attack in a nearby market that killed 50. The Taliban have claimed the attacks on government, army or Western targets in calls to media organizations, but not ones killing civilians.

It was the deadliest bombing in Pakistan since a suicide bomber hit the homecoming festivities for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in the southern city of Karachi in October 2007, killing around 150 people. Bhutto was later killed slain in a separate attack.

Hussain blamed the militants based in South Waziristan for Wednesday's attack.

"We are hitting them at their center of terrorism, and they are hitting back targeting Peshawar," he said. "This is a tough time for us. We are picking up the bodies of our women and children, but we will follow these terrorists and eliminate them."

[Charlemagne2009]

These murderous and cowardly bomb attacks are proof that the offensive of the Pakistan army against the Taliban are a success. The Taliban are afraid of losing their rear base.
These attacks are also designed to lead public opinion against the United States; in fact, they are proof that the international anti-terrorism cooperation is effective.

[rwsmith29456]

"He who kills a Muslim has no place but hell," said Mumtaz Ali, a wounded 19-year-old who was studying in a Muslim school attached to a mosque that was damaged in the attack. "We are taught the way of the prophet. We are not taught to kill innocent people." I hope the term 'innocent people' includes people of other faiths. I tell you, you people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq are going to have to go after terrorists yourself and quit covering for them. Do that instead of fighting the U.S. and we will be more than glad to get out of your hair, QUICK.

[thesevenveils]

Ask your self, what would Muhammad do if another tribe was killing women and children in his market?

The name Islam is derived from the word peace. How ironic.

[Ms_enza]

Yeah, well there is no one who can be disappointed that his name is associated with Islam... Now, Jesus on the other hand...

[armyoftwelve]

Salaam is the word "peace," islam means submission or surrender. It is deceitful to say islam comes from the word peace.

mohammed would probably wonder if there were any prospective wives getting killed in that market....

[chonder2]

Hopefuly the Pakistan army will remain resolved to kill and push the bad guys into the high mountains before the snows.No more deals.

[karora]

sad.

[ibsteve2u]

A dollar says that "talliban777" is one of the rightie trolls who hang out here urging us to kill millions of Muslims while they sit in the safety of their mother's basement...

lollll...that "777" is sort of a giveaway.

[AOCGUY]

Is there some significance to 777? Personally I just though tali was a nut.

[taliban777]

helo all amricans and all amrican supporters if u will nt leave our muslim Land we will kill you all where ever you will be on earth. you did touch to muslim Land we will cut ur nicks like we did before....our brave muslim fighters are READY for die for islam amrica are looser in iraq,afg you will never win war with us remember we will kill you all like a rate and jews are all devil on earth you also get ready for die ...there is no god bUT ALLAH ALLAH ALLAH ALLAH

[thesevenveils]

Allah, the same god of Jews and Christians. But you forget that part.

[taliban777]

muslim land we will makehelo all amricans and all amrican supporters if u will nt leave hell for u where ever u will be on earth. you touch to muslim Land we will cut ur nicks like we did before....our brave muslim fighters are READY for die for islam amrica are looser in iraq,afg you will never win war with us remember we will kill you all like a rate and jews are devil on earth you also get ready for die ...there is no god bUT ALLAH ALLAH ALLAH ALLAH