PESHAWAR, Nov 22: The Taliban on Thursday claimed responsibility for the bomb explosions targeting Shias in Rawalpindi and Karachi and threatened to avenge the execution in India of Mumbai attacks convict Ajmal Kasab.

“We carried out the attacks (on Wednesday) in Rawalpindi and Karachi because the Shia community is engaged in defiling the prophet (peace be upon him),” spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone.

He said the Taliban wanted Kasab’s body returned to Pakistan otherwise they would unleash worse reprisals.

“We will take revenge of Kasab’s martyrdom,” he said.

“We strongly demand that his body be returned to Pakistan. If the body is not handed over (to the family) our reaction will be more severe,” the spokesman added.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility and been blamed for hundreds of suicide and gun attacks in Pakistan since beginning an insurgency in 2007 against the government.—AFP