The blast took place at the hotel "where the Indian High Commission was to host a reception to mark the Republic Day," according to the [1] Times of India (thanks to Jeffrey Imm).

"Suicide blast at Marriott hotel in Pakistani capital," by Rana Jawad for [2] AFP (thanks again to Jeffrey Imm):

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - A suicide bomber killed a security guard and himself when he set off explosives strapped to his body outside the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital, the interior minister has said.

The powerful blast, which could be heard across the city, occurred when the guard prevented the attacker from entering the heavily-protected five-star hotel, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told AFP.

"It was a suicide attack. The suicide attacker and a guard were killed," Sherpao said. "The attacker tried to enter the hotel and was stopped by the security guard and there was a scuffle and the blast occurred."