Pakistan blames ISIS for suicide bomb as death toll reaches 46

Pakistani investigators have attributed the tragic suicide bombing at a political rally to the extremist Islamic State group, as the death toll rises to 46. The devastating incident occurred on Sunday in Bajaur, a region near the Afghan border that was once under the control of the Pakistani Taliban.

Initially, about 40 people lost their lives, and over 150 individuals were left wounded. However, six more victims succumbed to their injuries at hospitals overnight, bringing the total death toll to 46, according to Bilal Faizi, a rescue official.

As of now, approximately 90 injured individuals are still receiving treatment at hospitals in the north-western province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as stated by Faizi.

The provincial police chief, Akhtar Hayat Khan, has confirmed the attack as a suicide bombing, and authorities are conducting DNA testing to identify the perpetrator.

In connection with the bombing, three suspects were arrested overnight and are currently undergoing interrogation by intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, according to local police chief Nazir Khan. The authorities are actively investigating the matter to uncover the full extent of the incident and potential links to the extremist group responsible.