The death toll in the Pakistan mosque blast climbed to 59 on Saturday. The government pledged to hunt down the culprits and accused India’s intelligence agency of involvement.
On Friday, a devastating explosion occurred at a mosque in Mastung, located in the southern province of Balochistan. The blast occurred when a bomber detonated explosives near a police vehicle, where people had gathered for a procession commemorating Prophet Mohammad’s birthday, as Reuters reported.
Pakistani officials have consistently asserted that India sponsors violent groups within Pakistan, a claim India has consistently denied.
Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti stated, “Civil, military and all other institutions will jointly strike against the elements involved in the Mastung suicide bombing.” He further asserted, “RAW is involved in the suicide attack,” referring to India’s Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) intelligence agency. However, no supporting details or evidence were provided for the allegation.
India has not yet provided any official comments or statements regarding the situation.
According to Wasim Baig, the spokesman for Baluchistan’s health department, the death toll has risen due to seven more people succumbing to injuries in the hospital since Friday. Additionally, several patients remain in critical condition.
Reuters reported that a second attack occurred at a mosque in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, killing at least five individuals.
The police initiated an investigation and submitted a report revealing they had sent the suicide bombers’ DNA for analysis. Notably, no group has claimed responsibility for either of these attacks.
While a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces has raised concerns about election preparations and public campaigning ahead of January’s national vote, previous attacks primarily targeted security forces. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP), responsible for some of Pakistan’s deadliest attacks since its formation in 2007, denied involvement in Friday’s blasts.
