The death toll from Sunday’s suicide bombing, which targeted a political rally near the border with Afghanistan, rose to at least 54 people, an official said.
Funeral services are underway on Monday in Pakistan after a suicide bomber killed more than 50 people during a political rally on Sunday, ISIS claims blame
Funeral services are underway on Monday in Pakistan after a suicide bomber killed more than 50 people during a political rally in Bajaur on Sunday. The rally was for the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to both Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, per The Associated Press. Police suspected that the Islamic State group was to blame and it was confirmed by the group itself Monday afternoon when they posted on their website that “a suicide attacker from the Islamic State … detonated his explosive jacket in the middle of a crowd,” reported Al Jazeera.
Analysis: The Islamic State affiliate has taken advantage of local grievances and power vacuums to undermine the Taliban's rule, sparking concerns that regional interference may be necessary to quell the group's expansion.