Pakistan: A day after the deadly bomb blast which claimed lives of 46 people and leaving nearly 100 injured, an initial probe suggested that the terrorist organisation Daesh (ISIS) is behind the suicide attack on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Bajaur.
While citing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Geo News said, “The matter is still under investigation and the police is doing everything in their power to gather information on the Bajaur blast. However, the initial probe indicated the involvement of banned outfit Daesh (ISIS).”
On Sunday, a devastating suicide bombing at a rally in a former tribal area near the Afghanistan border resulted in the loss of at least 46 lives, leaving over 100 people injured.
District Police Officer (DPO) Nazir Khan declared an emergency in the hospitals of Bajaur and surrounding regions, where most of the wounded were rushed for medical care. Critically injured individuals were airlifted from Bajaur to hospitals in Peshawar by military helicopters.
Read more: Bomb blast in Pakistan leaves 45 dead along with local JUI-F leader, 200 Injured
Authorities are currently investigating the incident, with the police gathering details about the suicide bomber and the bomb disposal squad collecting evidence from the site. Three suspected individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the attack.
Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence of extremist attacks since last year when a ceasefire between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamabad collapsed.
A tragic mosque bombing in Peshawar earlier this year claimed the lives of over 100 people. Reports suggest that TTP may be seeking a merger with Al Qaeda to form an umbrella organization encompassing all militant groups in South Asia.
Cross-border militancy remains an ongoing concern, with Pakistan blaming Afghanistan for not doing enough to prevent terrorist activities emanating from its soil.
The incident has drawn demands for investigation from JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while the targeted party, a major ally of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition government, is preparing for national elections in November.
PM Shehbaz condemned the blast as an attack on Pakistan’s democratic process and vowed to ensure that those responsible are punished.
The Pakistan Army’s top brass has recently highlighted the impact of terrorist sanctuaries and freedom of action in Afghanistan on Pakistan’s security.
Terror activities in Pakistan have surged by 79 percent during the first half of 2023, according to a report by the independent think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The situation remains highly concerning as the nation grapples with the escalating threat of terrorism.
