KHAR, PAKISTAN – An Afghan branch of Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that occurred at a pro-Taliban party’s election rally in Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 54 people. This incident is one of the region’s most horrific attacks in recent years.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province released a statement on its Amaq website, stating that the attacker detonated an explosive vest. The bombing took place in the northwestern town of Bajur and was carried out as part of the group’s ongoing war against forms of democracy it perceives to be against Islam.
The tragedy unfolded at the election rally for the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, a political group with ties to both the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. The large tent, housing around 1,000 people, was situated near a market when the attack occurred. The blast resulted in 54 fatalities, including five children, and nearly 200 injuries.
The attack highlights divisions between Islamist factions, as the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the incident took place, is known to have a significant presence of such groups.
Witnesses described the harrowing scene as they heard the deafening sound of the bomb, followed by cries for help and the arrival of ambulances to transport the wounded to hospitals.
Police investigations initially pointed to Islamic State in Khorasan Province as a suspect. The group, based in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, is a rival to the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida.
The Pakistani military previously battled the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in Bajur, clearing the district of militants in 2016. However, the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, led by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman, has remained a formidable political force.
The mourning community has begun holding funerals for the victims, with families expressing their grief and heartache. Hundreds of men accompanied the caskets to mosques and open areas for special funeral prayers before burying their loved ones in the hills.
As condolences poured in from across the country, the wounded received medical treatment, and critically injured individuals were transported to the provincial capital, Peshawar, by army helicopters. Sadly, the death toll may continue to rise as some critically wounded victims succumb to their injuries.
The attack aimed to weaken Rehman’s party ahead of the upcoming elections expected to take place in October or November. Abdul Rasheed, a senior leader of the party, stated that such attacks could not deter their resolve.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition government, which came into power in April 2022, has vowed to punish those responsible for the tragedy. Pakistan’s condemnation of the bombing was echoed by the U.S. and Russian embassies in Islamabad.
Amid the mourning, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad to strengthen trade and economic ties. However, the government canceled a cultural event that was planned in his honor, given the solemn atmosphere.
Sunday’s bombing adds to a series of deadly attacks in northwestern Pakistan over the past decade. In 2014, 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar, and other incidents have resulted in significant casualties.
Authorities continue to investigate the bombing as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy, seeking to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of the people.