KOHAT, Pakistan – A devastating suicide car bombing followed by a fierce gun battle at a mosque inside a police headquarters has left at least 16 people dead and more than 56 injured, marking a bloody escalation in violence in Pakistan’s restive northwest.
The attack occurred on Friday in Kohat, a city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province located near the porous Afghan border. As worshippers gathered for midday prayers, an explosive-laden vehicle was rammed into the entrance of the mosque, which is situated within a high-security police compound. The force of the blast was powerful enough to destroy the mosque’s structure and collapse the outer wall of the police station, with reports stating that the sound was heard for miles.
Provincial police chief Zulfikar Hameed confirmed that the initial explosion was a suicide attack. The carnage did not end with the detonation; immediately following the blast, armed militants attempted to storm the police compound, triggering a chaotic and prolonged gun battle with security forces already on-site.
Dr. Tahir Shah reported that at least 15 bodies were recovered shortly after the assault, with the death toll rising to 16 as victims succumbed to their injuries. Among the dead are five police officers and 10 civilians, with rescue official Bilal Faizi noting that a majority of the 56 wounded were worshippers. Hospital staff have warned that the death toll may rise further, as many of the injured remain in critical condition.
While no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the assault, suspicion is heavily focused on the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and regional affiliates of ISIL (ISIS), both of which maintain a significant presence in the area and frequently target state security personnel. The attack follows a period of heightened volatility; only one day prior, a roadside bomb in the neighboring Hangu district killed six soldiers. In response, Pakistani military forces conducted operations on Thursday that resulted in the deaths of 10 suspected TTP militants.
The TTP, which remains ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban despite being a separate entity, has intensified its campaign of violence since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan government of providing a safe haven for these groups, a charge Kabul vehemently denies. This friction has resulted in frequent, sporadic cross-border skirmishes between the two nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement strongly condemning the “cowardly actions” of the perpetrators. He has ordered authorities to prioritize and accelerate all rescue and relief operations. The Ministry of Interior echoed these sentiments, asserting that such attacks would not diminish the government’s resolve to combat militancy. As security forces tighten their grip on the region, residents of Kohat remain on edge, fearing further reprisals in a landscape increasingly defined by cross-border instability and internal insurgency.
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