Sixty people have been killed since Friday’s blast in Mastung, and interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has blamed India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
A suicide bomber attacked an Eid Miladun Nabi parade in the outlying area of Mastung, Balochistan, killing at least 55 people (including a police officer) and wounding 60 more.
Friday prayers and commemorations of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday were being planned when the incident occurred. According to Waseem Baig, a representative for the Quetta Civil Hospital, “five more injured succumbed to their injuries during treatment at the hospital,” while the status of more than a dozen other injured people from the bomb is remains severe.
Baig reported that 25 people who were hurt had been treated and released from the hospital.
Dozens of victims of the bomb were taken to several Quetta government hospitals. In order to ensure that the injured receive the best possible care as quickly as possible, the province government has declared an emergency at all government-run hospitals.
The Interior Minister Bugti, however, stated that “those who were seriously injured in the deadly bombing were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).” They were sent to the CMH per General Asim Munir’s orders, he said.
Ali Mardan Domki, the interim chief minister of Balochistan, went to the hospital to check on the injured. He gave orders to the health department to make sure the blast victims got the finest care possible.
During his visit to the hospital, Domki spoke with the media and promised that “the elements behind this terrorist attack will be brought to justice.”
At a hastily scheduled news conference at the CM Secretariat, Interior Minister Bugti declared, “RAW is behind the deadly Mastung blast.” State-sponsored terrorism will not be tolerated, and we will not tolerate those who aid it. Attendees included Balochistan’s Minister of Home Affairs, Captain (ret.) Zubair Jamali, and the Minister of Information, Jan Achakzai.
Bugti assured the public that the government had ordered all law enforcement authorities to investigate and apprehend those responsible for this horrible crime. “[There is] zero tolerance [for terrorist activities] and no place for terrorism and extremism,” Bugti said. The minister promised that intelligence-based operations will be carried out to track down and kill the terrorists responsible for these atrocities.
There are no words for this catastrophe… Those shattered homes have my deepest sympathy,” he stated. “As a state, we know exactly who is responsible for these terrible acts.” He claimed that government officials were aware of the identities of those funding terrorist acts. We cannot allow the killing of innocent Pakistanis,” Bugti underlined.
He promised that innocent blood would not be sacrificed in the cause of Islam. “There will be no pardon for such elements,” he said. Bugti said, “Enough is enough,” pledging that the state’s authority will be restored no matter what. He promised that those who aid in such catastrophes would be revealed.
Bugti stated that inquiries were also being made into the recent attacks in Balochistan, as it was not uncommon for one group to carry out an attack while another claimed blame. As Bugti put it, “violence will only be exercised by the state,” regardless of who is doing the violent acts and under what banner.
In response to the tragedy, Ittehad Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat Balochistan called for a province-wide walkout.
At a press conference held in Quetta, Balochistan’s top religious leader Allama Muhammad Qasim Qasmi blasted provincial and federal authorities for allegedly failing to ensure the safety of a peaceful parade in the district of Mastung.
To paraphrase, “We want justice,” he cried out.
The religious leaders urged everyone to join the strike against the terrorist incident in Mastung by closing their businesses and shops.
So far, no group has taken responsibility for the incident. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist organisation banned in Pakistan that has claimed responsibility for some of the country’s deadliest assaults, has denied any connection.
The provincial administration directed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to file a first information report against an unknown terrorist group on Saturday.
An FIR was registered with murder charges and terrorism offences under the Anti-Terrorism and Explosive Act, the CTD said in a statement.
CTD reported the investigation is ongoing but no arrests have been made.
Condemnation
The United States and the rest of the world have expressed their deepest sympathies to the families of those killed in the terrorist incident in Mastung.
X State Department spokesman Matthew Miller condemned the “suicide attack in Balochistan that killed and injured worshippers and others” in a statement posted to the social networking site.
Trump’s envoy to Pakistan, Donald Blome, also posted on X to express the United States’ solidarity with Pakistan and express sympathy for the victims and their families.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also condemned and denounced the terrorist incident, reiterating the Kingdom’s stance that all acts of violence and terrorism must be rejected.
Saudi Arabia expressed their support for Pakistan and its people by saying they will be there for them no matter what.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry of the United Arab Emirates released a statement saying, “The UAE expresses its strong condemnation of the criminal act, and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles.”
In addition to Egypt and Turkey, Iraq, Algeria, and France have all spoken out against the terrorist act.
They both released remarks expressing sorrow for the innocent lives lost and support for the government and people of Pakistan.
The nations also reaffirmed their unwavering opposition to acts of violence, terrorism, and intimidation against their citizens and offered prayers for the fast recovery of those who had been hurt.
