The attack that ripped through a political rally in Bajaur on Sunday is only an expression of a larger ideological war. But in a complex interplay of terror outfits, sectarianism and politics, what is really going on behind the scenes?

The number of people killed in the suicide blast in the workers convention of Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) in Bajaur has increased to 54. There are also 83 injured people being treated in different hospitals.

The involvement of Islamic State - Khorasan Province has been identified as the organisation behind the attack. Meanwhile an FIR has been registered against unknown terrorists.

If we examine the frequent attacks on the leader of Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) over the past few years, then the question arises here, why them?

This was the basic question that Aaj Digital asked today from two important figures who constantly monitor the incidents of terrorism in the region. The first is Rustam Shah Mohmand, an expert on Afghan affairs and former ambassador and the second is Iftikhar Firdous, founder of Khorasan Diary.

In response to the question, Rustam Shah Mohmand said that the reason for JUI being targeted is the ideological differences between it and the IS-KP. Just as IS is the rival of the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan, it is the rival of JUI in Pakistan. Their problem is with the JUI, so they hit it wherever and however they can.

According to Mohmand, there are two reasons for such attacks: one is to cause loss of life to a rival and the other is to create anxiety and fear in the society. The message is that a person with different views will not be forgiven.

Mohmand also believes that since IS-KP does not have large numbers and is not popular among the people, it is probably made up of some people from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan who are supported by certain people across the border. They are continuing their operations across the border to spread their ideology by harassing those with opposing views.

Journalist Iftikhar Firdous, the founder of Khorasan Diary, also called it a war of ideologies and said that the issue of IS-KP and JUI is based on three key points.

The first point, according to Firdous, is that when IS was forming its Khorasan chapter, the first fatwa against them was given by the leaders of JUI. IS was called a group of ‘kharjites’.

Secondly, he said, JUI is identified with the Taliban in Afghanistan who are a Deobandi group. According to ISIS, they are liable to death.

The third is that ISIS says that those who believe in democracy instead of caliphate are kharjites and since JUI believes in democracy and nationalism, therefore they are kharjites and their killing is obligatory.

Firdous also said that apart from this, the head of IS-KP, Dr. Shahab Al-Muhajir, also believes that the people of his party should have two targets, one are the tribal leaders who stand against him and the other are the religious scholars who oppose him.

He added that Muhajir explained all these things in great detail in his book “Asabato Jagara — The war of nerves” published in Pashto language.

Firdous also said that since the Bajaur incident was massive, it caught to the attention of everyone. However, if one was to start with the killing of a JUI leader in Peshawar in 2016, then 42 people belonging to this party have been killed so far. Only 23 of them belong to Bajaur.

Another theory about the attack on JUI, which has been circulating since yesterday, is that targeting the second largest party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is part of a plan to keep it out of the upcoming election.

Mohmand said that even if this theory is accepted, according to him, it is in the advantage of JUI and they can cash in by taking this point to the public because they have a religious following and there is a majority of those who follow the ideology of JUI in the province as well.

Therefore, they may get sympathy at the public level, Mohmand believes, and people will come to them in droves, but JUI is currently moving forward in a defensive mode.

When the same question was put to Firdous, he called it only a war of ideas and did not connect it with any political element or the upcoming election.