The attack comes just before Ramadan, raising concerns about ongoing security in Pakistan.
**Deadly Suicide Attack Strikes Notorious Islamic Seminary in Pakistan**
**Deadly Suicide Attack Strikes Notorious Islamic Seminary in Pakistan**
At least six fatalities and multiple injuries reported following explosion at Darul Uloom Haqqania.
The Darul Uloom Haqqania, a prominent Islamic seminary in northern Pakistan, has been rocked by a deadly suicide bombing that resulted in at least six deaths and injured over ten individuals. The blast occurred during Friday prayers at the mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, approximately 55 kilometers from Peshawar. Among the deceased is Maulana Hamid ul-Haq, a key cleric and head of the institution, known colloquially as the "University of Jihad."
The attack, which coincided with a gathering to greet ul-Haq, was unclaimed as of this moment but adds to anxieties in a region frequently targeted by militants. Witnesses reported that the mosque was filled with hundreds of attendees at the time of the explosion, prompting fears of more casualties.
Darul Uloom Haqqania has been historically linked to the Taliban, with several notable alumni, including Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, who played crucial roles in the Taliban's military campaigns in Afghanistan. The seminary is part of the Deoband school of thought and has produced clerics influential in both religious and political spheres.
Maulana Hamid ul-Haq succeeded his father, the late Maulana Sami ul-Haq, known as the "Father of the Taliban," who had deep connections to the Taliban leadership. While both father and son maintained close ties with the Taliban, they were primarily viewed as mediators rather than direct participants in violence.
In response to the attack, Pakistani leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, condemned the violence. The Pakistani Taliban expressed condolences, highlighting ul-Haq's role as a significant figure in the seminary community. The event has raised critical questions about security and the increasing frequency of attacks targeting religious institutions in Pakistan, particularly as the holy month of Ramadan approaches.
The attack, which coincided with a gathering to greet ul-Haq, was unclaimed as of this moment but adds to anxieties in a region frequently targeted by militants. Witnesses reported that the mosque was filled with hundreds of attendees at the time of the explosion, prompting fears of more casualties.
Darul Uloom Haqqania has been historically linked to the Taliban, with several notable alumni, including Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, who played crucial roles in the Taliban's military campaigns in Afghanistan. The seminary is part of the Deoband school of thought and has produced clerics influential in both religious and political spheres.
Maulana Hamid ul-Haq succeeded his father, the late Maulana Sami ul-Haq, known as the "Father of the Taliban," who had deep connections to the Taliban leadership. While both father and son maintained close ties with the Taliban, they were primarily viewed as mediators rather than direct participants in violence.
In response to the attack, Pakistani leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, condemned the violence. The Pakistani Taliban expressed condolences, highlighting ul-Haq's role as a significant figure in the seminary community. The event has raised critical questions about security and the increasing frequency of attacks targeting religious institutions in Pakistan, particularly as the holy month of Ramadan approaches.
