Kohat Security Operation Ends After Mosque Assault
Security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa concluded a 21-hour clearance operation in Kohat, confirming the neutralization of eight militants following a deadly attack on a police compound and nearby mosque.
PESHAWAR — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police announced on Saturday that an overnight clearance operation near a mosque in Kohat district’s old Police Lines had been completed. Authorities stated that eight terrorists were killed during the retaliatory action, marking the end of a tense standoff that lasted approximately 21 hours following a two-pronged assault on security facilities.
The operation involved Elite Force commandos, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) teams, and other security forces who cleared key areas within the affected buildings. According to an official handout, the Inspector General of KP police, Zulfiqar Hameed, supervised the operation from the scene, commending the personnel for their actions and announcing rewards for their bravery in thwarting what officials described as nefarious designs by the attackers.
Casualties and Operational Details
The initial violence occurred on Friday when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near the mosque, followed by militants storming the compound and attacking police facilities. At least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were killed, and over 100 were wounded. Among the slain were SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari and Dr. Israel Orakzai, head of the paediatric department at DHQ Hospital. A CTD statement noted that the additional IG sustained a hand injury from a grenade attack but returned to the frontline after receiving first aid to continue supervising the operation.
Political Response and Attribution
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the targeting of innocent citizens, calling the act
The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen, a group associated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The state authorities refer to these banned entities as Fitna al-Khawarij. According to reports from GN auto geopolitics/terrorism: counter terrorism, the coordination between multiple security agencies was central to the conclusion of the operation, with regional and district police officers playing key leadership roles alongside the CTD.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
This incident recalls a similar attack in 2010, where a remote-controlled bomb killed 20 people, mostly relatives of policemen, inside a police colony in Kohat. As the immediate security threat is declared contained, attention now turns to the broader implications for stability in the region. Observers will watch for any further claims of responsibility and the pace of recovery efforts for the injured personnel and civilians in the coming days.
