India behind Quetta mosque blast, claims Balochistan Home Minister

KARACHI: Balochistan’s Home Minister on Saturday blamed arch-rival India for Friday’s deadly bombing at a Quetta mosque-- an attack claimed by Daesh in a statement.
The explosion, which ripped through the mosque during evening prayers in the densely populated Ghous Abad neighborhood, killed 15 people including a deputy superintendent of police and injured dozens of others.
Daesh said in a statement on Friday, that the target of the suicide bombing was the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan’s state policy denies the presence of the group on its soil.
“India is behind the suicide attack inside the mosque and it has been using Afghanistan’s soil for carrying out terrorist activities inside our country,” Mir Zia Ullah Langove told Arab News.
He denied that the mosque and seminary was run by the Afghan Taliban.
“It is a totally local madrasa (seminary) and the reports claiming it was run by any foreigner are completely baseless,” Langove said, following a high level security related meeting.
According to a handout, the meeting reassessed the security situation and decided to take all possible steps for eliminating terrorism. Friday’s attack was the second in the city this week.
“We are investigating the presence of any foreigner and will share the outcome within the next three days,” Langove continued, and added: “Security forces are ready and will foil all evil designs of the enemies of Pakistan.”
Earlier, two members of the Afghan Taliban told Arab News that the mosque and its attached seminary belonged to the Afghan Taliban chief justice, Sheikh Abdul Hakeem.
Hakeem’s brother was killed in the blast while his son was in critical condition, they said.
An audio message in Pashto making the rounds among Taliban figures-- a copy of which has been received and verified by Arab News-- reiterated the news.
Taliban spokesman, Qari Muhammad Yousaf, however, denied the presence of any Taliban leaders at the mosque.
In a Twitter post on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he had demanded an ‘immediate report’ of the incident.
“I have demanded an immediate report on the condemnable, cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta targeting a mosque & people at prayers. Have asked prov govt to ensure all medical facilities are provided to the injured. Martyred DSP Hajji Amanullah was a brave & exemplary officer,” Khan tweeted.
The southwestern province of Balochistan, of which Quetta is capital, is at the center of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
But violence in the restive province has fueled concerns about the security of planned mega projects-- part of Beijing’s Belt and Road project.