The death toll in Sunday’s suicide bombing on a political gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district has risen to 54, as per local health officials. The convention, held by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), was in full swing in the town of Khar, adjacent to the Afghan border, when the explosion occurred.
The militant group known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group released an image of the alleged bomber, identified as Abdullah Muhajir, through its news outlet, Amaq News Agency.
Local authorities, including District Police Officer Nazir Khan, confirmed that three suspects have been apprehended in the aftermath of the incident. Comprehensive investigations are underway, with Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat Khan, stating that evidence from the attack site has been collected for DNA testing. The scene of the incident has been cordoned off for further examination.
The bombing has triggered widespread condemnationd. The Taliban government in Afghanistan and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have both denounced the incident, with a TTP spokesperson expressing solidarity with the victims and strongly condemning the blast.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson for the Afghan government, condemned the attack in a tweet, labelling such violence as “not permissible under any circumstances.”
The US embassy in Pakistan also issued a statement expressing condolences, condemning the violence, and offering condolences to the families of the victims.