Breaking News - 'Everyone wants a piece': Uptick in Pakistan violence

Started by NewsCaster, Jan 19, 2013, 02:30 PM

NewsCaster

By Waj S. Khan, Producer, NBC NewsISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- In Pakistan's complicated and multiple insurgencies, killing is cyclical.

The onset of winter traditionally marks the end of the militants' "fighting season" and heralds a lull in attacks.

But this year is different. Pakistan is facing an extraordinary surge in terrorist activity.

The country is reeling from an intense spate of organized militancy that has crossed international borders and morphed from an anti-Western jihad in Afghanistan to an anti-state and sectarian movement deep inside Pakistan.

The increasingly sophisticated and high-profile attacks have killed scores. They include at least 114 people who were slain in a series of attacks on Jan. 10, a day which was later dubbed "Black Thursday."

NBCNews