RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, (Reuters) – Two suicide bombers  blew themselves up in a mosque and two other militants fired on  worshipers near Pakistan’s military headquarters after Friday  prayers, killing at least 40 people, including army officials.
The mosque is frequented by military officials in the town  of Rawalpindi, home to Pakistan’s military establishment and  only a 30-minute drive from the capital Islamabad.

The attack in what should be one of the most secure areas  of Pakistan was the latest challenge by militants against the  writ of the state. A local television station said people were  executed in cold blood.

“There are children among them who had come to pray with  their fathers. There are also elderly, retired security  officials,” said military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas.

“We have reports of some security officials killed or  injured but we are confirming that.” He said an army  major-general was killed.

Abbas put the death toll at 36. Four “terrorists” also  died, he said. Rescue services and a senior police official  said 40. But it’s not clear if that figure included the four  militants.

Pakistan’s army is fighting Taliban fighters blamed for  bombings that have killed hundreds of people since an offensive  was launched on their stronghold South Waziristan in October.

The nuclear-armed country faces mounting U.S. pressure to  root out Islamist militants operating along forbidding border  areas to help in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters two suicide  bombers blew themselves up inside the mosque while two others  kept firing outside. Ten children were among the dead.