A suicide bomber killed at least 20 people in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi on Monday as security forces pressed ahead with their offensive to wrest control of the Taliban strongholds in their South Waziristan bastion on the Afghan border.
More than 150 people were killed in a wave of attacks by the militants across the country before the Waziristan offensive was started on the October 17.
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 US 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 US drone on August 5.
The government says the militants, who have close links with Afghan Taliban, al Qaeda and anti-Indian militant groups, are hoping the stepped-up 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. People who have met him say Hakimullah is more reckless and ruthless than his predecessor.
In comments released on a video this month, Hakimullah, 31, said his fighters would stop their attacks and would fight India instead if the government "stopped following US orders".
What is the government doing?
Government leaders say the rise in attacks is a sign of desperation by the militants as they are squeezed out of their South Waziristan strongholds, and that the country will not be cowed by the violence.
Security has been tightened across the country with checkpoints causing long queues, and many government offices and embassies have erected concrete blast barriers.
Schools were closed across the country after two deadly bomb attacks at the International Islamic University bombing, although many schools have reopened with better security.
On Monday, the government announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the capture, dead or alive, of Hakimullah and his top aides.
What might happen next?
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 ramped up tension between the two old rivals after India accused Pakistani security agents of supporting the militants who carried it out.
Despite Pakistani denials, members of the Indian public clamoured 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.
