PESHAWAR, Pakistan. A devastating suicide bombing rocked northwest Pakistan early Tuesday, as a bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at the gate of a police station. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 23 officers, with 32 others sustaining injuries. The blast caused a section of the building to collapse, damaging nearby businesses and shops, shattering windows.
In response to the attack, the Pakistani military reported that six militants initiated gunfire, engaging in a prolonged shootout with security forces. The confrontation ultimately led to the death of all six attackers. The death toll is expected to rise as some officers remain in critical condition, according to authorities. The bodies of the deceased officers were transferred to a local hospital.
The targeted police station, Daraban in Dera Ismail Khan, is situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan, and was engaged in intelligence-based operations against militants in collaboration with local police. Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a newly formed militant group believed to be linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mehrban Khan, a hotel owner near the scene, recounted the intensity of the assault, stating, “The police station was under attack. The army was under attack. There were many army soldiers killed and wounded.”
President Arif Alvi condemned the attack, expressing condolences to the victims’ families, emphasizing that the sacrifices made by security forces would not be in vain. Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti labeled the assault an act of “terrorism.”
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region has witnessed a surge in violence, with multiple deadly incidents this year. The Pakistani Taliban’s increased attacks on security forces since 2022 have raised concerns, with authorities highlighting the emboldening of insurgents living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban assumed control in 2021. Despite being distinct entities, the TTP maintains close ties with the Afghan Taliban. Dera Ismail Khan, near South Waziristan, has been a focal point for anti-militant operations following the tragic attack on an army-run school in 2014, where over 150 people, predominantly schoolchildren, lost their lives.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
