| 2023 Khar bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of theinsurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
  Khar  Khar | |
| Location | 34°43′57″N71°31′25″E / 34.73250°N 71.52361°E /34.73250; 71.52361 Khar, Bajaur, Pakistan |
| Date | 30 July 2023; 2 years ago (2023-07-30) 4 p.m.[1]PKT (UTC+05:00) |
| Target | Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
| Weapons | Explosive belt |
| Deaths | 63+[2] (Including the assailant) |
| Injured | 200+[3] |
| Perpetrator |  IS-KP[3] |
On 30 July 2023, theIslamic State – Khorasan Province carried out asuicide bombing at aJamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) rally inKhar,Bajaur District,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan, killing at least 63 people[2] and injuring nearly 200 others.[4][5][6]
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F) is aconservative political and religious party led byFazal-ur-Rehman.[7] It is supportive of theTaliban government inAfghanistan. The JUI-F had been preparing fora general election after the dissolution of theNational Assembly. Religious parties have attempted to usean economic crisis and formerprime ministerImran Khan'sarrest to their advantage.[8]
Theinsurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa began in 2004 and its volatility peaked in the late 2000s and early 2010s, including twosuicide bombings in Khar inJanuary andDecember of 2010. Thiscivil war slowed to alow-intensity conflict in 2017. However, the region has seen an increase interrorist activity during the 2020s, with major protests erupting against the deteriorating security situation in January 2023.[9]
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.[10] At least 63 people were killed[2] and nearly 200 others were injured, including many children.[4] Maulana Zia Ullah, a local leader of the JUI-F, was killed in the attack[11] and it was the second assassination attempt on him.[12]
On 31 July, theIslamic State – Khorasan Province (IS–KP) claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.[13]
ThePakistani Taliban condemned the bombing, as didZabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban government. In a message onTwitter, Mujahid wrote, "Such crimes cannot be justified in any way".[10]
Prime MinisterShehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and gave his condolences to the families of the victims. In a statement by his party Foreign MinisterBilawal 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".[14] Minister of Information and BroadcastingMarriyum Aurangzeb stated on social media that "religion of terrorists is only terrorism. Ending terrorism is very important for the survival and integrity of Pakistan".[15]
