A suicide bombing in Pakistan has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 52 people and left over 50 others injured. This devastating attack occurred during a religious gathering commemorating the birthday of Prophet Mohammed in a volatile province bordering Afghanistan, as reported by health officials and police.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for these blasts, which come amid a disturbing surge in attacks by militant groups in Pakistan. These incidents pose significant challenges for security forces, particularly in the lead-up to the national elections scheduled for January next year.
In addition to the suicide blast in Balochistan province, another explosion occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which also shares a border with Afghanistan. This secondary blast resulted in the tragic deaths of at least two people, with the collapse of a mosque’s roof trapping dozens more underneath the debris.
The resurgence of attacks by Islamist militants in Pakistan has been a growing concern, especially after a ceasefire between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organization of various hardline Sunni Islamist groups, broke down last year. It’s important to note that the TTP denied responsibility for the attack in Balochistan.
The toll from the Balochistan blast stands at 58 wounded, according to Abdul Rasheed, a district health official, with the possibility of the casualty count rising as many of the injured are in serious condition.
Television footage of the aftermath shows the harrowing scene with hundreds of people assisting the injured into ambulances. Munir Ahmed, the deputy inspector general of police, explained that the suicide bomber detonated near the vehicle of the Deputy Superintendent of Police.
This tragic event is a stark reminder of the security challenges facing Pakistan and the ongoing threat of violence from militant groups.