On Christmas Day, a female suicide bomber in Bajaur, one of Pakistan's restive tribal agencies along the

Afghan border, hurled grenades and detonated her explosive vest, killing 45 and injuring more than 100.

Many of the victims had been standing in line at the entrance to a World Food Programme distribution

center. The U.N. organization swiftly suspended operations in the area, where some 300,000 people are

said to be in urgent need of food supplies. While aid distribution may restart soon, experts say the

bombing illustrates a shift in the tactics of the Pakistani Taliban, who--rather than attempting to win over

the local populace--seem willing to strike at any vulnerable target. Elsewhere in the tribal areas, separate

Pakistani military and CIA drone strikes killed nearly 60 suspected militants.