Peshawar Mosque Bombing: Traumatized but Undeterred

On January 31, 2023, a suicide bombing took place at a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 100 people and injuring 225 others. The majority of the victims were police officers. A faction of the Pakistani Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack, but later denied involvement.

The blast was described as the deadliest in a decade, as attacks by armed groups have been on the rise. The mosque was left in ruins, with rescuers trying to clear the rubble to find survivors. Despite the traumatic experience, some of the survivors, including Naib Rehman, a 44-year-old telecoms worker for the police, are determined to continue their duties and not be deterred by the attack.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and promised “stern action”. An investigation has been launched into the blast in the high-security police zone. Sharif described the human tragedy as “unimaginable” and stated that it was “no less than an attack on Pakistan”.

The collapse of the tenuous ceasefire between the TTP and Pakistan last year has led to an increase in attacks against Pakistani security personnel. This bombing serves as a reminder of the ongoing security challenges in the country and the need for a new approach to tackle the problem.

Source:

Hussain, Abid. “Pakistan Mosque Bombing Survivors Traumatised but Undeterred.” Al Jazeera, 31 Jan. 2023, www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/31/pakistan-mourn-as-toll-in-peshawar-mosque-blast-rises-to-100.