Two suicide bombers launched an attack on the headquarters of a security force in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Monday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least three officers and leaving five others injured. The assault occurred at the provincial headquarters of the Federal Constabulary, located in the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.
According to city Police Chief Saeed Ahmad, one bomber detonated explosives at the main entrance while the second attacker was shot and killed by security personnel near the parking area. At the time of the assault, many security officers were on the open ground for morning parade drills. Ahmad stated, “The terrorists involved in today’s attack were on foot and failed to reach the parade area, and a timely response by our forces prevented a much larger tragedy.”
No group has claimed responsibility for this attack yet. However, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has previously been implicated in similar incidents. The TTP, while distinct from the Afghan Taliban, maintains an alliance with them and has been responsible for a recent uptick in militant attacks across Pakistan. The latest bombing follows a suicide attack outside a court in Islamabad less than two weeks prior, where a bomber detonated explosives next to a police vehicle, killing twelve individuals.
The surge of violence has heightened tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Pakistan has accused the TTP of operating with relative freedom in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Pakistan’s government frequently expresses concerns that Afghanistan is not taking sufficient action against militants conducting cross-border operations.
Tensions further escalated after an incident on October 9, when Pakistan conducted drone strikes in Kabul, which Afghanistan condemned. This led to retaliatory threats from the Afghan government. The fighting resulted in numerous casualties, including soldiers, civilians, and militants. A ceasefire was brokered by Qatar on October 19, but efforts to reach a lasting agreement have faltered. Talks held in Istanbul have not yielded any guarantees from Afghanistan regarding preventing TTP attacks from its territory.
In response to the ongoing violence, Pakistan has intensified military operations against the TTP in recent weeks, reportedly killing dozens of insurgents in regions near the Afghan border. The situation remains fluid as both countries navigate their complex relationship amidst escalating violence.
This report includes contributions from Rasool Dawar, a writer for the Associated Press, who provided insights from the ground in Peshawar. As the situation develops, the implications for regional security and stability will be closely monitored.
