In Pakistan, in the latest in a series of deadly terrorist attacks, a suicide bomber blew himself up today in a busy commercial area in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, killing at least 34 people, including military personnel. The motorcycle-borne bomber detonated his explosives outside a state-run bank, causing considerable damage to the facade of Shalimar Hotel on Mall Road, less than a kilometre from the army's fortified General Headquarters.<br/> Rescue service officials put the death toll at 34. 45 injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Many people, including pensioners, who had come to the National Bank to collect their salaries and pensions were among those killed and injured in the blast that occurred at 10.40 am. Police said the suicide bomber blew himself up outside the bank when police teams tried to intercept him. Military police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off the area and diverted traffic from the road in front of the hotel. Ambulances rushed bodies and the injured to hospitals, where an emergency was declared.<br/> Pakistan has witnessed a series of deadly suicide attacks and bombings over the past few weeks that have killed hundreds of people. Today's attack came nearly a month after an audacious terrorist strike on the General Headquarters in which 14 people were killed before most of the attackers were gunned down by army commandos.<br/> Nearly 120 people, mostly women and children, were killed in a car bomb attack in a commercial hub in Peshawar last week.<br/> Most of the attacks have been claimed by the Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan, against whom the army has launched a major offensive in the lawless South Waziristan tribal region.