Pakistan (MNN) — Disaster struck over the weekend when a suicide bomber attacked a political rally in northwestern Pakistan. The latest death toll stands at 54 people killed, and that number will likely go up with another 200 injured.

Nehemiah with FMI says, “There [are] no rescue services available there. There [are] no hospitals. So the Pakistan Army had to intervene and they were helping with injured people and they were trying to transport the dead bodies.”

Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for the attack on the rally for a pro-Taliban political party. This is the first suicide attack claimed by ISKP in this area.

(Photo courtesy of FMI)

When terrorist groups attack each other in Pakistan, Nehemiah says it boils down to a power struggle.

“These types of terrorist organizations, they don’t believe in political parties. They claim that democracy or politics is not the solution so the only way to move forward is to enforce Sharia law.

“They are trying to keep killing each other to win. This is just like a tug-of-war going on. Who is going to enforce Sharia law? So this is a very, very complex situation.”

The shrapnel of these attacks also leave spiritual wounds.

More and more Pakistani Muslims are dissatisfied with the failures of their religion when they witness these terrorist activities, and are leaving Islam in search for spiritual truth. FMI church planters meet them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nehemiah asks, “Pray for our partners who are serving and working in very, very difficult situations so they can take the Word of God with them and reach out to these places. These are highly unreached places, but we have an opportunity to share the Word of God with them.”

 

Header photo courtesy of Abuzar Xheikh/Unsplash.