The recent apprehension of several suspects linked to the killing of a member of an outlawed anti-India militant group inside a mosque has put Pakistan’s Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Anwar, in the spotlight. Anwar revealed the development during a press conference on Friday, stating that evidence has been found pointing to the involvement of a foreign country in this act of terrorism in Sialkot. Full details were reported by Jurist.
Anwar said that a rogue nation orchestrated the attack, which was planned outside the borders of Pakistan, with authorities claiming to have gathered irrefutable evidence, soon to be shared with the relevant countries. The Punjab Police, along with other security agencies such as the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Military Intelligence (MI), were instrumental in the identification and arrest of the alleged terrorists. Details were initially discussed at the press conference.
The incident, which took place on October 11, claimed several lives during Fajr prayers at a mosque in Sialkot. The local mosque leader and a security guard were among the casualties. The assailants, believed to be a group of six gunmen, intruded on prayers before opening fire. A detailed report can be found on the Punjab Police official site.
Pakistan has seen a 27% upsurge in terrorist activities in 2022, compared to the previous year, according to a report by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies. Fatality rates hit a peak in January 2023, marking it as the deadliest month since July 2018. Pakistani authorities have attributed the rise in activity to the Taliban’s power gain in neighboring Afghanistan. Further statistics and analysis were published by Dawn.
The international community, including the UN Security Council, has strongly denounced the terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Notably, a brutal suicide terrorist attack during a political meeting in Bajaur was met with condemnation. The attack, which caused at least 44 deaths and injured over 100 people, was condemned by the UNSC in July 2023.