A blast rocked a mosque in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, injuring several people, including Abdullah Nadeem, a local leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party. Nadeem, who was believed to be the primary target of the explosion, sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. Three others, including two children, were also injured in the blast, according to police officials in South Waziristan.

As of now, the perpetrators behind the explosion remain unclear, and authorities are investigating the incident.

This attack is part of a larger uptick in violence in Pakistan’s border regions with Afghanistan, which has seen increasing militant activity in recent months. Just last month, a suicide bomber killed six worshippers during Friday prayers at an Islamic seminary in the same region. Earlier this week in southwestern Balochistan, separatist militants hijacked a train and held passengers hostage in a standoff with security forces that lasted for hours.

Pakistan has vowed to intensify its crackdown on growing militancy, particularly in the border areas. The government claims that many of the militants involved in these attacks are finding safe haven in neighboring Afghanistan. However, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has consistently denied these allegations, stating that it does not support cross-border terrorism.