The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a pro-Taliban cleric’s rally in Pakistan, which killed at least 54 people, including five children. The attack targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party and aimed to disrupt the upcoming fall elections. The IS statement suggested that the attack was part of the group’s ongoing war against forms of democracy that it considers to be against Islam. The attack reflects divisions between Islamist groups in the region. ANWARULLAH KHAN and RIAZ KHAN reported
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Pakistan that killed at least 54 people, including five children, at a pro-Taliban cleric’s rally. The attack took place in the northwestern town of Bajur during an election rally for the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, known as IS, made the claim in a statement posted on its Amaq website, stating that the attack was part of its ongoing war against forms of democracy it deems to be against Islam. The bombing reflects divisions between Islamist groups in the region, which have a strong presence in the district that borders Afghanistan. According to officials, the attack targeted the rally, which had approximately 1,000 people in attendance. The bombing is one of the worst attacks in Pakistan in recent years and has left hundreds of mourners grieving and burying their loved ones. No other group has claimed responsibility for the attack at this time..
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