A wave of terror struck Pakistan on Friday, September 29, 2023, as a suicide bomber denoted his explosive among a crowd gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Mohammad.
The incident that occurred in the Mastung district of Baluchistan province claimed at least 52 lives and injured approximately 70 others. The attack targeted worshippers and law enforcement personnel, illustrating the grim reality of increased violence this past year.
Baluchistan, a southwestern province, has been a longstanding hotbed of Islamic militancy and regional extremist groups. Local authorities reported that the attack was meticulously planned to target the religious procession as the congregants dispersed from the mosque.
As of now, no organization has claimed responsibility for the incident. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a religious radical group that has pledged allegiance to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and is responsible for many similar attacks previously, was quick to deny any involvement with the incident.
The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), and Baloch separatists are among other regional armed groups that have previously carried out attacks in the province.
Following the attack in Baluchistan, the wave of violence continued as another bomb explosion at a mosque in Hangu City, in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, left at least five people dead and injured ten others. According to a report by local broadcaster Geo News, the explosion caused the mosque’s roof to collapse, trapping approximately 30 to 40 individuals under the debris.
Pakistan’s president, President Arif Alvi, and caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti denounced the attacks, urging the authorities to assist the victims and their families.
Given its religious significance, the Birthday of the Islamic prophet Mohammad is a national holiday in Pakistan. As the news of the explosions in Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reverberated across the country, law enforcement agencies in Punjab and Karachi amplified security measures around mosques during Friday prayers.
The recent bombing is a bleak reminder of Pakistan’s tumultuous struggle with terrorism over the years, reflecting a trend of escalating religious violence.
Political and religious violence has surged over the past year in Pakistan. According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, terror incidents in Pakistan surged by 79% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Tahrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the main anti-government group that denied its role in the Friday attacks, has found renewed vigor after the re-ascendence to the power of its ideological forebearers, the Taliban in Afghanistan. Many analysts believe that Pakistan’s policy of tiptoeing with religious extremism to advance its regional interests could prove self-destructive beyond repair.
