Mast Gul claims Kohat attack

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A militant group headed by ‘Major’ Mast Gul claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bomb explosion in Kohat in which 12 people were killed and 16 injured.

Fidaullah Fida stated to be the spokesman of this group, claimed responsibility for the attack that took place at a public vehicles stand in the busy Peshawar Chowk in Kohat.The group had also claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on the Pak Hotel in Peshawar. At the time, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Peshawar commander Mufti Hassan Swati had also joined hands with Mast Gul to claim responsibility for the bombing.

Sources in the TTP later claimed that Swati was summoned by the leaders of the outlawed militant organisation and reprimanded for undertaking the attack. Mast Gul became known as ‘Major’ Mast Gul because this is how the Indian authorities, media and even some of the Kashmiri mujahideen circles referred to him. He fought against Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir where he led his fighters occupying the historic Charar Sharif shrine which was burnt down in the fighting.

Mast Gul later came to Pakistan where he earned respect and was warmly welcomed by Jamaat-e-Islami and other religious parties. He belongs to Kurram Agency. Lately, there are reports that he has come close to the banned sectarian militant group, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.