Pakistan Mosque Blast

Written by: Rubi Orellana

The death toll from a mosque blast in Pakistan has risen to at least 100, causing a national security crisis.

The death toll from a suicide bombing that tore through a mosque in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, ascended to at least 100 on Tuesday. This has become one of the nation's deadliest attacks in years.

According to Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesperson for the city's Lady Reading Hospital, at least 100 people were killed in the blast at a mosque. Police suspect a suicide bomber used 12 kilograms (26.5 pounds) of explosives, according to Inspector General of Peshawar Police Moazim Jah Ansari. Ansari added that the attack injured 217 people. Nasarullah Khan, a police official who survived the attack, said he saw "a huge burst of flames" before a plume of black dust. Khan said his foot was broken in the blast and he was trapped in the rubble for three hours. "The ceiling fell in... the space between the ceiling and the wall is where I managed to survive," he explained.

Meanwhile, hope was fading in the search for survivors as rescue workers sifted through the rubble. Worshipers gathered for evening prayers. "We don't expect to find anyone alive. The majority of the dead bodies are being recovered," said Bilal Faizi, a rescue spokesperson, on Tuesday.

The explosion on Monday is the latest sign of a worsening security situation in Peshawar, the capital of the repressive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan and the site of frequent attacks by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP.) The Taliban is a US-designated foreign terrorist group that operates in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Last year, the rundown of an unstable year-long ceasefire between the Taliban and Pakistan's government threatened not only an increase in violence in that country but also an increase in cross-border conflicts between the Afghan and Pakistani governments.

TTP officials Sarbakaf Mohmand and Omar Mukaram Khurasani initially claimed the blast was "revenge" for the death of TTP militant Khalid Khorasani last year. However, the TTP's main official spokesman initially denied the group was involved in the incident. Pakistani officials say an investigation is taking place but have not affirmed either allegation.

Munir pushed leaders to concentrate on anti-terrorism operations and perform with intelligence and police agencies throughout the country with "renewed resolve," according to a statement issued by the Pakistani military. He stated that this collaboration would keep going until "sustainable peace" is obtained. On Monday, Peshawar Chief of Police said the blast inside of the Officers Paths Mosque was "likely a suicide attack," evoking Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's remark. "The brutal killing of Muslims prostrating before Allah is against Quranic teachings," Sharif stated, contributing that "targeting the House of Allah proves that the attackers have nothing to do with Islam."

Rights groups have denounced the deadly attack, which has heightened fears of new violence throughout the country amid the security situation. According to the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, the attack could have been prevented if the "state had heeded earlier warnings from civil society about extremist outfits in the province."

The attack also comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan, which has been struggling with a rising living costs as food and fuel shortfalls wreak havoc on the country of 220 million people. Sharif's government has battled to re-establish the country economically, which was further harmed by deadly floods last year, which killed over 1,500 people and immersed entire villages.

Hopefully, this issue will be solved and the country’s situation will improve.