Pakistan Taliban Faction Claims Suicide Bombing at Kohat Police Mosque

A suicide bomb attack and subsequent gun battle at a mosque located at a police headquarters in northwestern Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has left at least 27 people dead, including 15 police officers and six civilians. The assault occurred on Friday as people gathered for Friday prayers in Kohat, a district near the Afghan border.

Suicide Bombing and Gun Battle at Kohat Police Mosque

According to provincial police chief Zulfikar Hameed, an explosives-laden vehicle was rammed into the entrance of the mosque. The blast badly damaged the mosque and caused the outer wall of the police station to collapse. Following the explosion, armed individuals attempted to enter the police compound and exchanged fire with officers.

A faction of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. Specifically, the attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen faction active in the region.

Casualties, Rescue Efforts, and Regional Security Context

Rescue efforts and hospitalizations followed the morning blast. Dr Tahir Shah stated that at least 15 bodies and more than 50 injured individuals were initially taken to the hospital, while other sources indicated that at least 75 to 78 people sustained injuries. Bilal Faizi, a senior rescue official, noted that most of the wounded individuals were worshippers, with some reported to be in critical condition. Kamal Hyder reported that at least six attackers were killed in the fighting.

The bombing in Kohat followed a separate incident on Thursday in the northwestern Hangu district, where a roadside bomb struck a security forces convoy and killed six soldiers. Additionally, government troops conducted raids in various areas on Thursday, killing 10 fighters believed to be members of the TTP.

Pakistan Taliban Faction Claims Suicide Bombing at Kohat Police Mosque — Photo: NDTV

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bomb attack and directed authorities to accelerate rescue operations, while the Pakistani President conveyed wishes for the swift recovery of those injured. The Ministry of Interior stated that the cowardly actions of the attackers could not weaken the nation’s firm resolve.

The TTP is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban, which returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan has frequently accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing the TTP and other groups to operate from Afghan territory and provide sanctuary for training, an accusation that officials in Kabul deny.