Scene of blast in Peshawar (Photo Express Tribune, AFP) 

In a message to journalists, a top Taliban Commander confirmed that Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) central (leader, Mullah Fazlullah) claimed responsibility for a car blast on a Frontier Corps (FC) convoy near to Peshawar Press Club that killed at least 3 people and injured 13 others.

He stated that “the target of the attack was an FC Commandant considered an enemy combatant” and that ” it was a car blast, 300 kg of TNT, the suicide bomber was from valley of Swat”.

A statement followed shortly after from TTP spokesperson, Shahidullah Shahid, claiming

“our original goal strike was FC Commandant (Brigadier Khalid Javed)”

“this is an attack to avenge the death of three commanders, who become martyrs in an attack of FC forces at Sur Dand camp near Peshawar on 15th of August 2014, time 11:00pm…. Commander Jamil Adizai, Commander Shahidullah Adizai, Commander Umar alias Balaga Badhbair”

In a chilling warning he continued that “the series of operations will continue until the system of shariyat is implemented on earth.”

Earlier, DAWN media reported that Brigadier Khalid Javed remained safe however hospital officials confirmed deaths including civilian casualties of “a 20-year-old woman Saba Gul; a Noshera resident 27-year-old Muhammad Zahir Khan and a Bara FC official Zareen Afridi.”

Those injured were taken to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Combined Military Hospital (CMH) with at least two persons said to be in a critical condition.

 PTI officials visit victim of car blast (Photo PTI)

Politician, Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI), strongly condemned the Peshawar blast tweeting that “prov govt must provide all required medical facilities to the injured and support to victims’ families”. Khyber Pakhtun­khwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak along with his Cabinet members visited Lady Reading Hospital to meet with the injured as did PTI officials.

The car involved in the attack was reported as a Suzuki Alto with Express Tribune claiming that “police have found the chassis and engine numbers of the car and are close to reaching the owner of the vehicle”.

Pakistan military launched operation Zarb -e-Asb in June in North Waziristan to curb militancy after peace talks failed, a backlash from insurgents was anticipated in response to air strikes in the region. In an earlier press statement TTP central spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid denied claims by the military that they had dismantled the communication and command system of TTP stating that “every commander of TTP is holding his position and operational as usual.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.