A suicide bombing at an Islamic religious school in Pakistan, known informally as the “University of Jihad,” resulted in the deaths of six individuals on Friday, according to local police reports. The attack occurred at the Dar-ul-Uloom Haqqania school in Akora Khattak, which is located approximately 60 kilometers east of Peshawar. Among the deceased was Hamid ul Haq Haqqani, the head of the institution and a prominent figure within the region’s right-wing Islamist political framework.
Witnesses indicated that the explosion took place post-Friday prayers, when crowds had gathered to greet Haqqani. Abdul Rasheed, the district police chief, confirmed that initial investigations suggested a suicide bomb was responsible for the blast. In addition to the fatalities, the incident left at least 16 others injured, with three individuals reported in critical condition. It was noted that an Afghan national was also among the deceased.
Hamid ul Haq Haqqani was the successor to his father, Sami ul Haq Haqqani, who was assassinated in 2018 and was often referred to as the “father of the Taliban.” Sami ul Haq was known for his significant role in educating the founders of the Taliban, including Mullah Omar, at the same religious institution. The school has a historical reputation for producing Taliban fighters and instilling a militant ideology.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attack as a cowardly act of terrorism. The sprawling campus in Akora Khattak is home to around 4,000 students, providing them with free food, clothing, and education, often guided by hardline Islamic teachings. The institution has been described as a pivotal contributor to the militant landscape, creating generations of combatants for various conflicts in the region.
The history of the school aligns with the rise of significant figures in militant groups, including Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the notorious Haqqani network, and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, the current interior minister in the Taliban government. The Haqqani network has been implicated in numerous high-profile attacks within Afghanistan.
In response to the bombing, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, Abdul Mateen Qani, issued a condemnation, attributing the attack to the jihadist Islamic State group, which has been increasingly active against the Taliban since their resurgence in power in 2021. Despite the rising tensions, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Educational institutions like the Dar-ul-Uloom Haqqania have faced criticism for their role as breeding grounds for militancy, particularly among refugees who find themselves with limited educational opportunities. Over the years, Pakistani madrassas have largely received a free pass from successive governments, which have relied on Islamist parties for political support, thus fostering an environment where such institutions can thrive unchallenged.
In the broader context, following the Taliban’s takeover in Kabul in August 2021, the resurgence of militancy has been noted, particularly along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The previous year was reported as the deadliest in a decade for Pakistan, with over 1,600 fatalities attributed to conflict-related violence. Islamabad has accused the Taliban leadership of not adequately addressing militant groups allegedly operating from Afghan territory, a claim the Taliban government has consistently denied.
