Q+A: What is behind the violence in Pakistan?

(Reuters) - A suicide car bomber attacked an office used by Pakistan's main intelligence agency in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday, killing nine people and wounding 55.

The city, near the Afghan border, has been targeted several times since the army began an offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan on October 17 and militants stepped up retaliatory attacks.

Here are some questions and answers about the violence

WHAT ARE THE TALIBAN TRYING TO DO?

The Taliban want to impose their hardline version of Islamic rule and expel U.S. forces from the region. They are also exacting revenge for the deaths of their "martyrs," in particular their leader, Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a missile attack by a pilotless U.S. drone on August 5.

The government says the militants, who have close links with Afghan Taliban, al Qaeda and anti-Indian militant groups, hope the urban attacks will weaken the resolve of authorities to tackle the issue and also distract them from the offensive.

Some analysts say the wave of violence is brash new Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud trying to make his mark. Those who have met him say Hakimullah is more reckless and ruthless than his predecessor.

In comments released on a video last month, Hakimullah, 31, said his fighters would halt their attacks and fight India instead if the government "stopped following U.S. orders."

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING?

The army launched an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban in their South Waziristan bastion last month. Officials say the rise in urban bomb attacks are a sign of desperation by the militants as they are squeezed out of their strongholds, and that the country will not be cowed by the violence.

Security has been tightened across the country with checkpoints causing long queues. Many bombers have set off explosives at these checkpoints when they realize they are about to be caught.

Many government offices and embassies have erected concrete blast barriers, but other buildings remain vulnerable to large car bombs, which cause extensive damage even if the perpetrators do not get through security perimeters.

Targets are also vulnerable to commando-style attacks by teams of gunmen bent on martyrdom, and they are also using increasingly sophisticated techniques. Militants in army uniform and traveling in a vehicle with military markings attacked army headquarters in Rawalpindi last month, but failed to get into the complex and instead took hostages at a security office outside.

WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT?

There's no sign that the resolve of either the military or the militants is weakening, so more violence is inevitable. While that drags on, a major danger is that the militants might try to divert the army's attention by engineering a confrontation with India.

The attack on the Indian city of Mumbai in November last year ramped up tension between the old rivals after India accused Pakistani security agents of supporting the militants who carried it out. Despite Pakistani denials, members of the Indian public clamored for a strike on militants in Pakistan, while Pakistan vowed to respond to any such action.

In the event of another surge in tension with India, the Pakistani army would have to focus its attention on the border with India, perhaps winding down the South Waziristan assault.