Today, on Sunday, 35 people were killed and 200 others injured when a bomb blast took place in JUI-F workers convention being held in an open area located near the Dubai Mor area of Bajaur’s Tehsil Khar in Bajaur district. Among the casualties was Maulana Ziaullah, the emir of the JUI-F party in Tehsil Khar. The district emergency officer, Saad Khan, confirmed the fatalities, and rescue workers feared that the casualty count might rise further.

Hafiz Hamdullah, a senior leader of the JUI-F, strongly condemned the blast and delivered a message to those responsible. He emphasized that such violent acts could not be justified as jihad; instead, they were acts of terrorism and corruption. He stressed that the attack was not only against humanity but also a grave injustice towards Islam and its followers. The JUI-F leader called for a thorough investigation into the attack by the authorities and urged the government to ensure proper treatment for the injured.

Upon receiving news of the blast, the police and rescue agencies swiftly arrived at the scene to provide assistance, and the injured were promptly taken to nearby hospitals for medical attention. DIG police in Malakand division stated that they are currently gathering information to ascertain the exact nature and cause of the explosion. The area has been cordoned off by law enforcement agencies, and investigations are underway to determine the motive behind the devastating incident.

All had heaved a sigh of relief on peaceful Ashura and probably lowered their guards when unknown perpetrators attacked an unexpected target as in these days the prime targets could be shia gatherings. Attack on JUI-F, a Sunni Deobandi group was least expected. Probably the terrorists and their handlers became too frustrated on their failure during Ashura and implemented their Plan B. Albeit nobody has claimed the responsibility of this incident so far, there are strong doubts that Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), might have conducted this attack. Hafiz Hamdullah had also pointed a finger towards them saying that violent acts could not be justified as jihad.

It must be ascertained whether the intelligence agencies had issued a threat alert in this regard or not. Apart from intelligence failure, it can be termed a policy failure. The resettlement of thousands of militants and their families, who were based in Afghanistan, brought back to Swat and North Waziristan, has given a big boost to the terrorists activities of TTP and affiliates. The new surge in terrorism in Pakistan has started since then, i.e. end of 2021. The folly and myopic approach of the people at the helm of affairs at that time has brought us back to square one. Would somebody hold them responsible for their arbitrary decisions and penalise them so that in future policy making doesn’t become a toy in the hands of selfish men in power.

If there is any hint of involvement of the groups based in Afghanistan, a demarche should be issued to the Afghan Taliban government for their slackness, if not complicity. There are reports that TTP and al Qaeda have joined hands for terrorist activities in the region. Afghan Taliban have close association with these two groups. In fact al Qaeda was harboured by Taliban in 1990s, prior to 9/11 and TTP militants were initially the foot soldiers of al Qaeda in the tribal areas of Pakistan after 2001.