At Least 31 Dead After Gun Attack and Explosion at Police Headquarters in Northern Pakistan

At least 31 people have been killed following a combined explosion and gun assault targeting a police headquarters in northern Pakistan, according to authorities. The attack struck the Old Police Lines complex in Kohat, a town of approximately 220,000 residents situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on the afternoon of September 18.

The targeted compound functions as a district-level police headquarters and houses critical administrative and operational offices, including the Counter Terrorism Department, the Special Branch, and several additional police units.

A senior police official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed the casualty figures on Saturday. Among the 31 individuals killed are 16 police personnel. More than 100 people sustained injuries during the militant raid and suicide bombing.

Fighting and security operations at the site remained active following the initial breach. According to police accounts, several militants remained holed up inside the Special Branch section of the Kohat Police Complex. An exchange of fire persisted since late Friday night, with authorities noting that the exact number of remaining attackers was still unclear.

A statement issued late Friday by the Kohat district health officer indicated that over 100 people were wounded in the violence, with the vast majority being police personnel. Several of the injured victims were reported to be in critical condition.

Local militant group Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, a faction affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the assault.

Photographs from the scene captured military personnel stationed near piles of bricks, debris, and blown-out walls. Soldiers equipped with assault rifles guarded the perimeter of the damaged compound, while multiple ambulances lined the adjacent street to transport victims.

The incident unfolds against a backdrop of rising regional tensions. Pakistan has frequently attributed the escalation of attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the southern border province of Balochistan to militant networks operating from within Afghanistan. Kabul's Taliban administration has consistently denied any involvement.

These cross-border accusations have generated a severe diplomatic rift and intermittent armed conflict. In response to regional security threats, Pakistan has previously conducted airstrikes targeting suspected militant positions across the Afghan border. The Taliban government in Kabul and the United Nations reported that dozens of civilians were killed during Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan in June.

In the wake of the Kohat attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a condemnation on Friday evening, expressing deep sorrow and regret over the injuries sustained by multiple individuals. He instructed authorities to provide optimal medical assistance to the wounded and demanded a comprehensive report on the security breach.

President Asif Ali Zardari also voiced regret over the heavy casualties and extended wishes for a swift recovery to those injured in the blast. Emphasizing national security priorities, President Zardari stated that the complete elimination of terrorist groups operating with foreign backing, referencing the TTP, is essential for the country.

As security forces continue clearing operations at the Kohat police headquarters, the local administration and medical facilities remain on high alert to manage the aftermath of one of the deadliest single compound attacks in the region in recent months.