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NEW DELHI: It was a bloody weekend in Pakistan, as twin blasts killed 41 people in Peshawar and a bomb exploded killing 25 people in Parachinar town of Kurram tribal region, on Sunday.
In Peshawar, blasts rocked Qissa Khawani market killing 41 and wounding at least 103 people. The blasts, which took place at 11am in the morning, set fire to shops and vehicles, with over 50 shops being burnt to the ground.
In Parachinar, a device containing about 35 kilograms of explosives was set off at a marketplace, killing 25 and injuring 62 people. Two militant groups claimed responsibility for the attack, with the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al Alami saying that it was an attack on the Shia community. The other group to claim responsibility was the Ansarul Mujahideen based in South Waziristan Agency.
“We warn ... parents that if they don’t stop their children from ongoing (sic) conflict in Syria they should remain prepared for more such attacks,” spokesman for the Jhangvi group, Ali bin Sufian reportedly said.
Earlier this week Reuters reported that a Shi'ite unit of Pakistani fighters known as the Zeinabiyoun were joining the war against Islamic State in Syria. Many come from Parachinar, which has a large Shi'ite population, unusual in Sunni-majority Pakistan.
Although unconfirmed at this stage, the link to the war in Syria will be troubling news for authorities in Pakistan, who are aware that the Islamic State is gaining a tentative foothold in neighbouring Afghanistan, where disaffected Taliban militants have pledged allegiance to the Syria and Iraq based militant group.
The LeJ also has a common aim as the Islamic State -- expelling Shi’ites and establishing a Sunni theocracy. The group, which once had the support of Pakistan’s powerful spy agency, has been reduced to insignificant player, especially after the leader of LeJ, his two sons and several top officials were shot dead in police custody this July. If Sunday’s blast was indeed carried out by the LeJ, it’s indication is that the group is far from finished, and has, in fact, gotten a fresh lease on life given the link to the conflict in Syria.
In regards to Peshawar, the main militant group -- the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan denied involvement. Spokesperson Shahidullah told Dawn.com that the TTP was targeting only security forces and government functionaries. He added that it had nothing to do with the general public and was not involved in the the blasts at the Qissa Khawani market. Shahidullah further stated that the TTP condemned the blasts which had claimed the lives of innocent people and stressed that the organization has no enmity with the masses .
The attack in Peshawar is the third such attack in the city in a week, coming on the heels of twin suicide attacks on a church in Peshawar claimed 80 lives exactly a week ago.
