Two suicide bombers targeted the headquarters of a security force in Peshawar, Pakistan, early on Monday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least three officers and injuries to five others. According to police and rescue officials, the assault occurred at the provincial headquarters of the Federal Constabulary in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region that shares a border with Afghanistan.
City Police Chief Saeed Ahmad detailed the sequence of events, stating that one bomber detonated his explosives at the main entrance while the second attacker was shot and killed by security personnel near the parking area. Ahmad noted that a significant number of officers were present for morning parade drills when the attack unfolded. “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,” he said to The Associated Press.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been implicated in similar incidents in the past. Pakistan has experienced a notable increase in militant violence in recent months, raising concerns about security across the region. The TTP operates independently yet maintains ties with the Afghan Taliban, which governs Afghanistan.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another suicide bombing that occurred on October 30 outside a court in Islamabad, where a bomber detonated explosives near a police vehicle, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals. The rise in attacks has exacerbated tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, with Pakistani authorities accusing the TTP of operating with impunity on Afghan soil since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Relations between the two countries have further deteriorated in recent weeks. Following an October 9 drone strike in Kabul, which Pakistan conducted against alleged TTP targets, Afghanistan accused Pakistan of exacerbating regional instability and vowed to retaliate. The subsequent clashes led to numerous casualties among soldiers, civilians, and militants until a ceasefire was brokered by Qatar on October 19, which remains in effect.
During discussions held in Istanbul, attempts to reach a lasting agreement faltered when Afghanistan declined to provide written assurances that it would prevent the TTP from launching attacks into Pakistan.
In response to the escalating violence, Pakistan has intensified its military operations against the TTP, reportedly killing dozens of insurgents in regions near the Afghan border. The government continues to navigate a complex security landscape, balancing internal threats with diplomatic relations with its neighbor.
The situation remains fluid as authorities work to address both the immediate aftermath of these attacks and the broader implications for regional security.
