PESHAWAR // A suicide bomber attacked a funeral attended by anti-Taliban militiamen in north-western Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 36 mourners and wounding more than 100 others, police and hospital officials said.
The blast took place close to the city of Peshawar, not far from the tribally administered regions that border Afghanistan where militants are at their strongest.
The area is home to several tribal armies that battle the Taliban and receive government support for doing so.
Like elsewhere in the north-west, the militias have been relentlessly targeted by the insurgents.
The police officer Zahid Khan said about 300 people were attending the funeral for the wife a militiaman in the Matani area when the bomber struck.
Television footage showed men picking up bloodied sandals and caps from a dusty, open space where mourners had gathered.
Witnesses said the bomber, who appeared to be in his late teenagers, showed up at the funeral just as it was about to begin.
"We thought this youth was coming to attend the funeral, but he suddenly detonated a bomb," said Syed Alam Khan, who survived the attack.
Another witness, Farman Ullah, complained that they had not received any security from the government or police for the funeral. "It was the duty of the government to provide us security, but it did not do it," he said.
Jamal Shah, a doctor at the main hospital in Peshawar, said so far it had received 36 bodies and more than 100 wounded in the blast.
Al Qa'eda and Taliban militants are waging a war against the Pakistani state from their bases in the north-west.
The army has launched several offensives against the militants, but has also encouraged the formation of private armies to help out in the fight.
While the ceding of authority to armed civilians has alarmed human rights groups, the state has praised the role of the militias in battling the militants or holding ground retaken from them.
Police in Peshawar said late last year that the armies in Matani were essential in stopping militant infiltration into the city.
The militiamen operate from heavily fortified compounds in the region, and have seen their influence rise as they get state backing for taking on the Taliban. In interviews in December, commanders complained they were not getting enough government help, but claimed to have wrested Matani from militant control.
The army says it is winning the war against militants, but bombings still regularly occur in much of the country.
On Tuesday, at least 20 people were killed in a car bombing in Punjab province.
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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