Attack on Kohat Police Complex Kills 21 in Pakistan
A coordinated assault on a security facility in northwestern Pakistan has raised the death toll to 21, with over 100 injured as authorities continue to secure the area.
The death toll from a militant assault on a police complex in northwestern Pakistan rose to 21 on Friday, according to local health authorities. The attack, which took place in the Kohat district, resulted in significant casualties among both law enforcement personnel and civilians, marking one of the most severe incidents in the region in recent months.
District Health Officer Dr. Nasir Hussain confirmed that 103 individuals were wounded, including 73 police officers and 30 civilians. The incident began during Friday prayers with an explosion near a mosque inside the Old Police Lines compound, followed by further detonations and gunfire as security forces engaged with armed attackers.
Casualties and Medical Response
Fifteen of the confirmed fatalities were police officers, highlighting the targeted nature of the assault on security infrastructure. Dr. Hussain noted that many of the injured remained under treatment at local hospitals, with further details expected as the full extent of the injuries is assessed. Rescue teams worked through the damaged structures to retrieve victims, operating amidst rubble and collapsed roof beams.
Security Operation Details
According to police, the attack involved multiple explosives, including a suicide bomber who detonated devices near the Special Branch building. Officers from the Counter Terrorism Department exchanged fire with intruders inside the compound, reporting the elimination of at least one sniper. While initial reports suggested a vehicle-borne explosive, investigators are still determining the precise cause of the first blast.
Provincial police chief Zulfiqar Hameed stated that security operations would continue until all remaining attackers were neutralized. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the incident, although police did not identify a specific organization as the primary suspect. The facility, which houses both police and counterterrorism offices, has been secured following the engagement.
Regional Security Context
This assault follows a recent surge in violence across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, which borders Afghanistan. The area has seen a renewed campaign of attacks led primarily by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates. Pakistan has accused the Afghan government of sheltering these fighters, a claim Kabul has denied. The incident comes one day after a roadside bomb killed six soldiers in neighboring Hangu district.
Mosques located within security compounds have become recurring targets in the conflict. A similar attack in January 2023 at a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines killed over 100 people. As the situation in Kohat stabilizes, attention turns to the broader implications for cross-border security and the ongoing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.
