Twin suicide attacks on Friday targeted the Pakistani military in Lahore, killing 45 people. This is the second attack to hit security forces in the city in less than a week.  At least 100 persons were injured, some of them seriously.

Known as cultural capital and the most happening city of Pakistan, Lahore has become very volatile these past few months. The latest blast disproves the Zardari government’s assertion that crackdowns have weakened Taliban insurgents.

The bombers walked up to Pakistani army vehicles in the cantonment area and blew themselves up as people were sitting down to eat before the main Friday prayers were to begin.

The first blast was very small – followed by sounds of gunfire. Immediately after there was a big blast hitting an army vehicle, an eye –witness was quoted as saying.

Police officials said the blasts took place in an interval of 15 seconds.

On Monday, a suicide car bomber destroyed security offices used to interrogate suspected militants in an upmarket Lahore neighbourhood. Pakistan Taliban claimed the responsibility for the attack that resulted in 15deaths.

Lahore witnessed as many as eight attacks that claimed 155 lives over the past year.