Increase in the Number of Casualties from the Attack on Sufi Shrine in Southern Pakistan

The number of fatalities from a bomb explosion at a Sufi shrine in Balochistan province, Pakistan, has surpassed 50, with over 100 others injured in the incident. Reports indicate that the explosion occurred at the shrine known as 'Shah Bilal Noorani' in the Khuzdar area, during a time when hundreds had gathered for the Sufi dance that takes place every evening at this shrine. According to the Associated Press, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, state officials say it is unclear whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber or if a pre-planted bomb caused the explosion. The Balochistan region of Pakistan, where this shrine is located, has witnessed some of the bloodiest attacks this year, and Islamist militants have previously carried out numerous attacks in this western part of Pakistan. For instance, last month, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for an explosion at a police training center in Balochistan that ultimately left over 60 dead. Shortly thereafter, the banned group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi also claimed involvement in that attack. This militant group has primarily targeted the Shia minority in Pakistan in recent years and has claimed responsibility for several major attacks in Balochistan province. Balochistan shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran, is rich in oil and gas resources, but has been a scene of Islamist militant attacks, sectarian violence, and separatist movements. In this context, an attack on a police center in Quetta, Pakistan, resulted in at least 59 deaths, while an attack on a judicial complex in Pakistan left 12 dead. A suicide bombing in Quetta, Pakistan, caused dozens of casualties.