Web Desk: CM Maryam Nawaz has cancelled all of her Basant activities for tomorrow and announced to stand in solidarity with the victims of Tarlai Blast in the outskirts of Rawalpindi.
At least 31 worshippers were martyred and several others injured when a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a mosque in the Tarlai area of Islamabad, officials said Thursday, marking one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent months.
Rescue teams immediately transported the injured to nearby hospitals, while security forces cordoned off the area and began a search operation. Authorities noted that the blast took place during prayers, increasing the number of casualties among civilians.
Investigators have identified the attacker and traced his movements prior to the incident. Government sources confirmed that the bomber had received terrorist training in Afghanistan and had made multiple trips to the country before returning to Pakistan recently, with his cross-border activity forming a central part of the ongoing investigation.
Officials warned that several militant groups operating from Afghanistan continue to threaten regional security and alleged that these groups operate under Taliban protection. Pakistan has repeatedly called for concrete measures to prevent attacks launched from across the border.
Authorities further claimed that some terrorist operations within Pakistan involve coordination between networks based in Afghanistan and India, a charge that India has consistently denied.
Despite the attack, government sources emphasized that the country remains united against militancy. Officials stated that assaults targeting mosques and civilians would not weaken Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism.
“Attacks on innocent worshippers are cowardly and will not break the determination of the Pakistani people,” a government source said, adding that security operations would continue to pursue militant networks and their facilitators.
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