:2023 Khar bombing

{{Short description|Suicide attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2023 Khar bombing

| partof = the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

| alt =

| caption =

| map = {{Location map|Khyber Pakhtunkhwa#Pakistan

| label = Khar

| border = none

| float = center

| caption =

| coordinates = {{Coord|34|43|57|N|71|31|25|E}}

}}

| location = Khar, Bajaur, Pakistan

| native_name_lang = ur

| coordinates = {{Coord|34|43|57|N|71|31|25|E|type:event|display=inline,title}}

| date = {{Start date and age|2023|07|30|df=yes}}

| time = 4 p.m.{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/30/pakistan-bomb-political-rally-00108897 |title=Bomb at political rally in Pakistan kills at least 40 people |date=30 July 2023 |work=Politico |access-date=30 July 2023 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730150049/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/30/pakistan-bomb-political-rally-00108897 |url-status=live }} PKT

| timezone = UTC+05:00

| target = Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)

| type = Suicide bombing

| weapons = Explosive belt

| fatalities = 63+ (Including the assailant)

| injuries = 200+{{Cite web |title=ISIL claims responsibility for Pakistan bombing that killed 54 people |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/31/pakistan-holds-funerals-as-government-vows-to-hound-those-responsible |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801060812/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/31/pakistan-holds-funerals-as-government-vows-to-hound-those-responsible |url-status=live }}

| perpetrator = {{flagicon image|AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg}} IS-KP

| motive =

}}

On 30 July 2023, the Islamic State – Khorasan Province carried out a suicide bombing at a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) rally in Khar, Bajaur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, killing at least 63 people{{Cite web |date= 2 August 2023 |title= Pakistan suicide bombing death toll rises to 63 |url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/2/pakistan-suicide-bombing-death-toll-rises-to-63 |work= Aljazeera |access-date= 2 August 2023 |archive-date= 2 August 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230802193253/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/2/pakistan-suicide-bombing-death-toll-rises-to-63 |url-status= live }} and injuring nearly 200 others.{{Cite web |date=30 July 2023 |title=Suspected Pakistan suicide bombing kills at least 54, injures 135 more at political rally |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/bomb-political-rally-northwest-pakistan-kills-least-35-people-wounds-1-rcna97141 |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730214355/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/bomb-political-rally-northwest-pakistan-kills-least-35-people-wounds-1-rcna97141 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=1 August 2023 |title=Pakistan suicide bombing death toll rises to 56 |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/world/asia/pakistan-suicide-bombing-death-toll-rises-to-56 |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=The Financial Express |archive-date=2 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802033059/https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/world/asia/pakistan-suicide-bombing-death-toll-rises-to-56 |url-status=live }}

Background

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F) is a conservative political and religious party led by Fazal-ur-Rehman.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-31 |title=Islamic State claims responsibility for Pakistan blast that killed 54 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230731-pakistan-police-comb-bomb-site-after-deadly-blast |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801134246/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230731-pakistan-police-comb-bomb-site-after-deadly-blast |url-status=live }} It is supportive of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The JUI-F had been preparing for a general election after the dissolution of the National Assembly. Religious parties have attempted to use an economic crisis and former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest to their advantage.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/30/pakistan-blast-khyber-pakhtunkhwa/ |title=At least 40 killed in blast at Pakistan political convention |date=30 July 2023 |last1=Noack |first1=Rick |last2=Hussain |first2=Shaiq |last3=Nawaz Khan |first3=Haq |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=30 July 2023}}

The insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa began in 2004 and its volatility peaked in the late 2000s and early 2010s, including two suicide bombings in Khar in January and December of 2010. This civil war slowed to a low-intensity conflict in 2017. However, the region has seen an increase in terrorist activity during the 2020s, with major protests erupting against the deteriorating security situation in January 2023.{{cite news |author=Hanifullah |title=Bajaur rises up against 'terror redux' |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2394513/bajaur-rises-up-against-terror-redux |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=The Express Tribune |date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107084758/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2394513/bajaur-rises-up-against-terror-redux |url-status=live }}

Bombing

JUI-F organized a workers' convention on 30 July 2023. At around 4 p.m., when over 400 party members and supporters were present, a suicide bomber approached the stage and detonated an explosive vest. At least 63 people were killed and nearly 200 others were injured, including many children.{{Cite web|title=Pakistan explosion: At least 54 dead in suicide bombing at political rally in northwest province|url=https://news.sky.com/story/pakistan-explosion-at-least-40-dead-in-blast-at-political-rally-in-northwest-province-reports-12930662|newspaper=Sky News|date=30 July 2023|access-date=30 July 2023|archive-date=30 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730134857/http://news.sky.com/story/pakistan-explosion-at-least-40-dead-in-blast-at-political-rally-in-northwest-province-reports-12930662|url-status=live}} Maulana Zia Ullah, a local leader of the JUI-F, was killed in the attack{{Cite web |date=30 July 2023 |title=Suspected Pakistan suicide bombing kills at least 54, injures 135 more at political rally |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/bomb-political-rally-northwest-pakistan-kills-least-35-people-wounds-1-rcna97141 |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730214355/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/bomb-political-rally-northwest-pakistan-kills-least-35-people-wounds-1-rcna97141 |url-status=live }} and it was the second assassination attempt on him.{{Cite web |last=Editorial |date=2023-08-02 |title=Intelligence failure |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1767988 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=2 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802075940/https://www.dawn.com/news/1767988 |url-status=live }}

On 31 July, the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS–KP) claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/31/islamic-state-pakistan-suicide-bombing-taliban |title=Islamic State says it carried out Pakistan suicide bombing that killed 54 |first1=Shah Meer |last1=Baloch |first2=Hannah |last2=Ellis-Petersen |date=31 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=31 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731162907/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/31/islamic-state-pakistan-suicide-bombing-taliban |url-status=live }}

Reactions

The Pakistani Taliban condemned the bombing, as did Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban government. In a message on Twitter, Mujahid wrote, "Such crimes cannot be justified in any way".{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/30/1190973873/pakistan-bombing-political-rally-bajur-district-maulana-fazlur-rehman |title=A bombing at a political rally in Pakistan has killed at least 40 people |date=30 July 2023 |publisher=NPR |access-date=30 July 2023 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730135257/https://www.npr.org/2023/07/30/1190973873/pakistan-bombing-political-rally-bajur-district-maulana-fazlur-rehman |url-status=live }}

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and gave his condolences to the families of the victims. In a statement by his party Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari "expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives" and also said "the terrorists, their facilitators and planners need to be eliminated so that peace is established in the country".{{Cite web |title=Suicide bomber kills 44 at Pakistan political rally |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/30/deadly-bomb-blast-at-political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930103245/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/30/deadly-bomb-blast-at-political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan |url-status=live }} Minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb stated on social media that "religion of terrorists is only terrorism. Ending terrorism is very important for the survival and integrity of Pakistan".{{Cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2023/7/30/deadly-bomb-blast-at-political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan |title=At least 44 killed in suicide attack at Pakistan rally |date=31 July 2023 |work=Al Jazeera |access-date=31 July 2023 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730231239/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2023/7/30/deadly-bomb-blast-at-political-rally-in-northwest-pakistan |url-status=live }}