Synopsis
On March 14, an IED exploded during Friday prayers at Maulana Abdul Aziz Mosque in South Waziristan, KP, injuring JUI-F leader Abdullah Nadeem and several others. The attack, suspected to be by ISKP, is seen as retaliation against recent anti-militant statements by JUI-F leaders. Investigations are ongoing.Key Takeaways
- IED blast occurred during Friday prayers.
- Senior JUI-F leader critically injured.
- Attack linked to Islamic State Khorasan Province.
- Historical pattern of mosque attacks in Pakistan.
- Ongoing concerns about terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Peshawar, March 14 (NationPress) An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated during Friday prayers in the South Waziristan region of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, severely injuring a prominent figure from the religious political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) alongside at least three other individuals.
According to local police, the explosion occurred within the premises of a mosque during Friday prayers at Maulana Abdul Aziz Mosque, situated on Azam Warsak Bypass Road. Authorities stated that the bomb had been concealed in the mosque's pulpit.
Recently, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman had visited the Darul Uloom Haqqania mosque in Akhora Khattak, KP, to express condolences and denounce a suicide bombing that resulted in the deaths of at least six people, including Hamidul Haq Haqqani, the head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Samiul Haq. He condemned militant factions for their assaults on mosques and the murder of innocent civilians under the guise of Jihad.
The recent explosion is perceived as a retaliation against Fazlur Rehman’s remarks, with suspicions pointing towards the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) being involved.
"The blast transpired at 1:45 PM at Maulana Abdul Aziz Mosque on Azam Warsak Bypass Road. In this incident, Abdullah Nadeem, the district chief of JUI, sustained critical injuries. Three others, also affiliated with JUI, suffered minor wounds," stated District Police Officer Asif Bahader.
"Law enforcement has arrived at the explosion site and is gathering evidence. Further investigations are ongoing," he added.
It was also disclosed that the primary target of the attack was Maulana Abdullah, who had been receiving death threats for some time.
"He (Maulana Abdullah) was also assaulted approximately seven or eight months ago," noted Bahader.
Mosques have frequently been targeted by militants, who have executed numerous attacks historically. Last month, a suicide bomber struck Darul Uloom Haqqania, killing at least six individuals, including a senior JUI-F leader. In 2023, a blast at a mosque in the Police Lines area of Peshawar resulted in 59 fatalities and 157 injuries.
Friday prayers are targeted due to the large gatherings, leading to higher casualty rates.
This attack followed a recent hijacking incident involving a train in Balochistan, where the Baloch Liberation Army assaulted the Jaffar Express passenger train.
The operation to resolve the 48-hour standoff between security forces and militants ended with the majority of hostages being rescued and at least 33 BLA militants neutralized.
Both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan have witnessed a significant rise in terrorist activities, a trend that Islamabad attributes to the surge in violence since the Afghan Taliban gained power in neighboring Afghanistan.
Pakistan has asserted that Afghanistan has become a sanctuary for anti-Pakistan militant groups, which are allegedly receiving support from the Afghan Taliban to execute operations across the border.
Pakistan has urged Afghanistan to ensure its territory is not utilized by anti-Pakistan factions and has called for immediate actions against them.
