Islamabad: Terrorists could launch a fresh wave of attacks in the national capital, targeting President Asif Ali Zardaris residence and the US embassy, Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned.
Terror masterminds have drawn up plans to hit Zardari House, the presidency, parliament house and the US mission in the near future, sources in the Interior Ministry told The News daily.
The strikes could come after a special session of parliament discussing the governments anti-terror policy concludes.
The agencies have said that terror groups are awaiting the outcome of the Parliament debate and what the lawmakers decide on continuation of the army offencive against Taliban and other extremist groups in the troubled NWFP.
"It has been learnt that terrorists have planned to initiate a second wave of bombings in Islamabad. This will be subjected to a decision by the joint session of parliament to induct additional troops into the tribal areas," the newspaper quoted a report submitted to the interior ministry as saying.
"The terrorists may use car bombs to attack the US embassy, the presidency or the Zardari House," the report said, referring to Zardaris private residence in a posh residential colony in the heart of Islamabad.
A beef up of security corden around the targeted building has been suggested by the intelligence and security agencies.
Zardari convened the special session of parliament so that lawmakers could be briefed on the security situation. The government is hoping to evolve a homegrown anti-terror policy by a national consensus following a debate in parliament.
The newspaper also quoted sources as saying that they believed the terrorists would adopt a new strategy to break through security rings. Suicide bombers could use fake army vehicles, a police van or an ambulance while the attackers themselves could be disguised as army personnel or policemen and could be wearing uniforms.
A countrywide wave of suicide bombings could occur simultaneously in major cities, targeting military installations, foreign missions, buildings of the Federal Investigation Agency, which has been probing terror attacks, and offices of law enforcement agencies, the sources said.
Security agencies have drawn up a counter strategy after putting law enforcement agencies on high alert.
Sensitive areas, including cantonments, military installations and the offices of police chiefs, the Anti-Narcotics Force and FIA, have been put in the list of "highly sensitive areas" and "extraordinary" security measures have been adopted at such places.
