Kohat blast exposes use of Afghanistan's soil for terrorism

Islamabad (Web Desk): The investigation into the Kohat mosque blast has pointed towards Afghanistan, raising questions over the contrasting positions of the Afghan Taliban regime.

The suicide attacker involved in the explosion has been identified as an Afghan national named Matiullah, while authorities are continuing efforts to identity the second militant, the Radio Pakistan reported.

The involvement of an Afghan national in the blast exposes the Taliban regime as its spokesperson made false claims on an international channel to divert attention from Afghan state sponsorship of terrorism.

The identification of the Afghan suicide bomber has also been cited as evidence that Afghan territory is being used as a base for planning and facilitating terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

Last month, 15 terrorists were killed while trying to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan in the vicinity of Ghulam Khan. In another incident in South Waziristan, five Khwarij were eliminated after security forces successfully stopped their attempted infiltration.

On Friday night, Pakistani troops also successfully prevented an armed group of terrorists from crossing the border near Kurram, responding promptly to the attempted infiltration.

Several reports from the United Nations (UN) and international media organisations have already exposed Afghan Taliban's patronage of terrorism.

A UN report states that more than 20 terrorist organisations, including 'Fitna Al-Khawarij' and ‘Fitna Al-Hindustan', are operating from Afghan territory.

At least 22 people, including 16 police personnel and six civilians were martyred, while more than 100 were injured after an explosion struck a mosque inside Kohat’s Police Lines during Friday prayers.

Eight militants were killed after police and security forces wrapped up an overnight operation launched following the deadly terrorist attack on Kohat Police Lines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Central Police Office (CPO) said on Saturday.

The joint operation was launched by police and security forces following suicide attack on a mosque located inside the Police Lines during Friday prayers a day earlier.