Ever since the military stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad in July, killing more than a hundred said extremists, terrorist attacks in Pakistan have intensified and become an almost daily occurrence.

Gregor Enste from the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Lahore says the reason is simple: "They are martyrs and their leaders swore revenge. Revenge through suicide attacks on the state organs, which martyred 200 of their comrades-in-arms. It's a banal explanation but a very sad one."

Most of the suicide attacks have taken place in the country's north-western regions, which borders Afghanistan. The Pakistani authorities have retaliated by stepping up their offensives against Islamist militants in the area.

Blast during holy feast

Friday's bombing targeted out-going interior minister Aftab Khan Sherpao as he prayed with hundreds of people in his local mosque in his village not far from the north-eastern city of Peshawar. They were offering prayers during Eid-al-Adha -- the Feast of Sacrifice -- one of the most holy festivals in the Muslim calendar.

It is the second time this year that suicide bombers have targeted the politician, who himself was propelled into politics by the assassination of his older brother in 1975. Sherpao himself was unhurt but one of his sons was wounded in Friday's attack.

A close ally of President Musharraf since breaking with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Aftab Khan Sherpao was -- until the government recently dissolved -- Pakistan's top law enforcement official in charge of combating armed extremists.

When Bhutto's convoy was attacked after she returned to Pakistan from her self-imposed exile in October, Sherpao was charged with heading the investigation.

Pre-election tension

As Pakistan gears up towards parliamentary elections on January 8, tension is high. Pro-Taliban militants in North West Frontier Province have issued warnings they will not allow the elections to be held in the Swat valley, which has been the scene of fierce clashes in recent weeks. The militants reportedly want to impose Shariah law in the area.

A major offensive was launched in the area last month and President Musharraf gave growing militancy as one of the reasons for imposing emergency rule on November 3. The insurgency continued despite the emergency, which was lifted last weekend.

Pakistani political analyst Talad Masood explained that the authorities did not have an easy task ahead of them: "Terrorism and extremism are a very serious challenge. It's a long-drawn battle, in which we need not only to use military instruments but also economic development, political reconciliation and a dialogue process if we are to overcome this crisis."

National unity

The head of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission I.A. Rehman thinks there is only way to political reconciliation and dialogue and that is for the country to unite: "There are two things: one is to define the direction of change, the other is to bring about that change. "Civil society will not be able to bring about the change. Change will have to come through the political parties but political parties cannot ignore the agenda that civil society has set.

"Pakistan's problems are much too serious to be solved by anyone alone," he added. "Neither Musharraf, nor Nawaz Sharif nor Benazir Bhutto acting alone can solve Pakistan's problems which are very serious. There is no room for partisan politics. The situation demands a truly representative government of national unity."

But experts doubt the country will unite in time for the January 8th elections.