The attack was swiftly claimed by IS, marking the first time the militants, who have seized control of large areas of Iraq and Syria, said they were behind an attack in Pakistan. But investigators believe the attack may have been carried out by the militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi as it seeks to expand its international influence. Islamabad has officially denied that IS is operating in Pakistan, which has been wracked by Al-Qaeda and Taliban linked violence for more than a decade.
The attack was swiftly claimed by IS, marking the first time the militants, who have seized control of large areas of Iraq and Syria, said they were behind an attack in Pakistan. But investigators believe the attack may have been carried out by the militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi as it seeks to expand its international influence. Islamabad has officially denied that IS is operating in Pakistan, which has been wracked by Al-Qaeda and Taliban linked violence for more than a decade.