by Sumahid Chowdhury
This bombing in Parachinar, Pakistan, in the Kurram district left twenty-four people dead. Many among the injured are said to be in a critical state.
Kurram is the only Shia Muslim region in a Sunni dominant country. Sunni individuals, currently operating through several Taliban factions including the Islamic State, consider them heretics and worthy of death because of the different religious ideas stemming back after the prophet Muhammad’s death. These groups have safe havens in Afghan and Pakistani areas surrounding Kurram, and have launched frequent attacks against civilians in Parachinar.
Locals blame the military for security failures and allege its policy of tolerating some Sunni militant groups has given extremists a new lease of life. They also point to the illegal border trade in the region, which they say goes on under the watch of the military and creates openings for militants to infiltrate. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, condemned the terrorist attack is working to eliminate the threat.