Every time the "ghost" reappears, it haunts many countries, especially innocent people.
The scene of a suicide bombing in Pakistan. Photo: Reuters
That is the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), with many terrorist activities around the world. Recently, this terrorist force reappeared when it carried out a suicide bombing in Bajaur district, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The terrorist attack killed 54 people and injured nearly 200 others.
The bombing targeted an election rally of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party in the Bajaur district, which borders neighboring Afghanistan. The JUI-F is a key partner in Pakistan's ruling coalition, led by hardline politician Fazlur Rehman.
The IS statement said that a member of the group detonated his explosive vest in the middle of a crowd in the town of Khar to disrupt the political event held near a market, inside a large tent, with the aim of killing the politician Rehman. However, Mr. Rehman did not attend the event at the last minute and survived. Previously, Mr. Rehman escaped at least two bomb attacks that took place at political rallies in 2011 and 2014.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi and other leaders have condemned the attack and have ordered authorities to provide maximum support to the injured and the families of the dead. The Prime Minister's Office has ordered an investigation into the incident and to hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable. Pakistani police are taking statements from the injured at a hospital in Kha, the largest town in the Bajaur district.
However, IS has claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack is seen as a reminder of the worsening security situation in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. At the same time, this terrorist incident has raised concerns that Pakistan could enter a bloody election period after months of political turmoil since former Prime Minister Imran Khan was dismissed in April 2022. In addition, the return of the terrorist organization IS is threatening the security of the entire South Asian region.
Since the ceasefire agreement between the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government collapsed last year, terrorist attacks have increased in the South Asian country.
Earlier this year, more than 100 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to a recent report by the United Nations Security Council, the TTP is considering the possibility of merging with Al Qaeda to form a single entity that would bring together all extremist armed organizations operating in South Asia.
Pakistan has long held Afghanistan responsible for failing to keep its promise to ensure that its territory is not used by terrorist groups to attack its neighbor. However, since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan's internal security has deteriorated significantly, with increased terrorist attacks and the resurgence of homegrown terrorist groups. What is happening to Pakistan is certainly contrary to the expectations of its rulers. Pakistan was once said to have supported the rise of the Taliban in the context of the US withdrawing its military forces from the neighboring country.
Islamabad also worked behind the scenes to remove so-called “moderate” members of the Taliban, allowing hardliners to dominate the new Afghan cabinet. But since then, things have spiraled out of control.
The re-emergence of IS through terrorism in Pakistan has sounded the alarm that this "ghost" has revived and will cause pain to many countries if not promptly extinguished.
HN synthesis
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