March 14, 2025: A powerful blast rocked a mosque in Pakistan’s Waziristan region on Friday, injuring a local Islamist leader and three others, including two children, police confirmed.

Authorities suspect the attack was aimed at Abdullah Nadeem, a leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Nadeem sustained injuries and has been hospitalized, along with the other victims, according to South Waziristan district police chief.

The explosion occurred at the Maulana Abdul Aziz Mosque during Friday prayers, local media reported. While the identity of the perpetrators remains unclear, the region, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed multiple terror attacks targeting places of worship.

In February, a suicide bombing at an Islamic seminary in northwestern Pakistan claimed the lives of six worshippers during Friday prayers. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region has been a frequent target of extremist violence, with militants exploiting the porous border with Afghanistan.

The latest attack comes on the heels of another major security incident in Balochistan, where separatist militants hijacked a train, holding passengers hostage in a deadly confrontation with security forces. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harboring and aiding militant groups responsible for such attacks.

Security forces have launched an investigation into the mosque blast, as tensions in the region continue to escalate.