21 lives lost as terrorists target mosque in Kohat police lines
• 15 police personnel martyred, over 100 wounded
• Attackers ram explosive-laden vehicle into mosque
• Six of seven assailants neutralised in subsequent operation; Gul Bahadur-led outfit claims responsibility
• President, premier, KP chief minister & governor condemn attack, seek report on the blast
PESHAWAR: In a deadly two-pronged assault, at least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred and over 100 were wounded when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat district’s old Police Lines, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities, senior police and health officials said.
Six of the seven attackers who managed to enter the compound following the explosion were killed within the first two hours of the attack. One assailant, however, managed to reach and hide inside a building within the compound. “We have cleared the entire complex. One militant is alive and we will soon clear the area,” a senior official told Dawn on Friday night.
Among the slain were SP Traffic Akbar Shinwari, head of the paediatric department at DHQ Hospital Dr Israel Orakzai, and Special Branch and CTD officials.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Zulfiqar Hameed told Dawn that the vehicle-borne bomb had initially struck the building’s gate, following which several attackers headed towards the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) building, where they were neutralised. Three others tried to move towards the Special Branch building.
The bodies and the injured were shifted to the district headquarters hospital. Kohat District Health Officer Dr Nasir Hassan Afridi later told Dawn that 21 people, including 15 police officials, had lost their lives while more than 100 people were injured, with three in critical condition.
The attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen.
Soon after the attack, Additional IG of CTD Javad Qamar reached the blast site and led the operation against the attackers.
An exchange of fire between CTD personnel and the terrorists was ongoing till filing of this report, the department said, adding that the additional IG had entered the site himself to take part in the operation and lead the personnel.
In a statement issued from his office, IG Hameed said that the operation would continue. “The operation will continue until the complete elimination of Fitna al Khawarij,” he said, adding that the police’s morale remained high.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
According to the statement, seven terrorists had attempted to infiltrate the old Police Lines after the explosion. “So far, six terrorists, including a suicide bomber, have been killed,” it said.
“Twenty ambulances and over 60 rescue officials took part in the operation,” Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi told Dawn.
Meanwhile, funeral prayers for the 15 martyred police personnel were offered in Kohat later in the evening, after which their bodies were transported to their native districts of Kohat, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mardan in Rescue 1122 ambulances.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi sought a detailed report on the incident, saying the targeting of innocent citizens was “deeply regrettable and unacceptable”, according to a statement issued by his office. He directed authorities to ensure immediate treatment for the injured. “The nation’s morale cannot be dampened by cowardly acts of terrorism,” he said.
It may be recalled that in 2010, 20 people, mostly relatives of policemen, were killed and more than 90 injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast inside a police colony located just behind the Kohat Police Lines. The explosion had taken place in Ramazan during Iftar. Condemnations pour in President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the blast.
In separate statements, the president and the prime minister expressed their good wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed that they be provided immediate and best possible medical treatment.
President Zardari said complete elimination of terrorists operating with foreign backing was imperative for national security.
The PM directed the authorities to provide immediate and best possible medical treatment to the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery.
He also sought a report from the relevant authorities on the nature and causes of the blast. He directed that relief operations be expedited.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the blast, praying for the recovery of the injured.
Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2026
