A suicide bombing at a police headquarters in Kohat, Pakistan, has killed at least 31 people and injured over 100 others. Fighting with militants continues at the site.
A suicide bombing near a mosque in Kohat, Pakistan, on Friday resulted in at least 31 deaths and over 100 injuries. The attack occurred at the district police headquarters complex in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border. An explosives-laden vehicle caused a large explosion, severely damaging the mosque and other structures on the police compound. Security forces have been engaged in an ongoing gun battle with militants still holed up in the Special Branch section of the police complex since late Friday night. The exact number of militants remains unclear.
The militant group Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, linked to the Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have both condemned the attack. Zardari specifically accused the Taliban in Afghanistan of providing safe havens for militants operating in Pakistan. The attack has occurred amid already tense relations between Pakistan and the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging that the TTP uses Afghan territory to plan and conduct attacks within Pakistan.
Why it matters
The attack highlights the ongoing security challenges in Pakistan's border regions and the influence of militant groups operating across the Afghan border.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
The outcome of the ongoing gun battle with militants and any further statements from Pakistan's leadership on counter-terrorism efforts.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.