“Relative Describes Mastung Blast as ‘Doomsday'” (April 2024)

Ayaz Ahmed, who recently attended the funeral of his cousin, two sons, and a nephew in the Mastung district of Balochistan following a devastating bombing during an Islamic religious gathering, expressed the profound impact it had on his entire family. The tragic event, which claimed the lives of over 50 people, including his loved ones, occurred during a birthday celebration for Prophet Muhammad.

Recalling the horrifying moments, Ayaz explained that the explosion’s shockwaves reached his home, prompting him to rush to the scene near a mosque. What he encountered was a scene of chaos: some individuals lay lifeless, others cried out for help with injuries, and many were being hurried to hospitals. His frantic search for his family members ultimately led him to the district headquarters hospital, where he discovered the lifeless bodies of his cousin, his two sons, and his nephew.

The heart-wrenching scenes of loss and suffering etched into his memory serve as a painful reminder of the countless families who have suffered similar tragedies. Ayaz expressed a poignant question about the enduring sacrifices they have made, hinting at the ongoing wave of terrorist attacks that have plagued Pakistan since its involvement in the fight against terrorism alongside the United States in 2001, following the removal of the first Afghan Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Tragically, the toll of innocent lives, as well as security personnel, continues to rise, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, with no clear end in sight. The recent bombing in Mastung claimed the lives of at least 51 people, including a local police officer, and left nearly 139 others injured. Some critically injured individuals succumbed to their injuries overnight, exacerbating the tragedy.

While the motives behind the attack remain unclear, Deputy Superintendent of Police Nawaz Gashkori was likely the target, though no explanation was provided. Authorities have initiated a murder and terrorism case against an unidentified assailant. Provincial caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai suggested that the incident was likely a suicide attack.

In solidarity with the victims’ families, the Balochistan government declared three days of mourning across the province. The grim Friday also saw terrorist attacks in the Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where one suicide bomber was thwarted by police, but another claimed five lives during weekly Friday prayers.

These surges in terror attacks have been claimed by both the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a coalition of militant groups, and the Khorasan offshoot of the Da’ish terror group. The increase in militant activity correlates with the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in Kabul in August 2021, and Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against the TTP, which allegedly operates from Afghan territory.

Pakistan has witnessed a distressing loss of life, with 26 soldiers killed in one month and 40 militants, including four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during the same period. Additionally, 56 civilians, including a police officer, lost their lives in the recent twin terrorist attacks. tensions have also escalated at the border, leading to the closure of the Torkham border crossing for ten days. However, reports suggest that the Afghan Taliban interim administration has launched a crackdown on TTP militants in eastern Afghan provinces, leading to approximately 200 arrests, a development confirmed by Pakistan’s caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.