Suicide bomber strikes crowd at anti-militant rally in Pakistan

A suicide bomber struck a crowd gathered for an anti-militant rally in Kabal, a town in Pakistan's Swat Valley, killing at least 14 people and wounding more than two dozen others. The protesters had been expressing their frustration with the authorities' failure to take decisive action against militants. Kabal is located in the Swat Valley, where militants have resurfaced in recent months, raising concerns about the Pakistani Taliban's attempt to regain influence in the region.

The attack occurred just before the rally began, as speakers were urging the crowd to demand peace and safety. At least nine civilians and five police officers lost their lives in the bombing. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their grief over the loss of life and pledged to continue the fight against terrorism until it was eliminated.

The interior minister also condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the victims. The Swat Valley was once a stronghold of Islamic militants, but the Pakistani military drove them out in 2007. However, militants have reappeared in the region recently, causing fears that the Pakistani Taliban is seeking to regain a foothold.

No group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the Pakistani Taliban, an ally of Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, is a leading suspect.