KOHAT, Pakistan┬а- Heartbreaking visuals have emerged from the Kohat Police Lines mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where an Afghan suicide bomber targeted worshippers during Friday prayers, killing at least 16 people and injuring over 50 others .
The attack, which occurred on September 18, 2026, saw a suicide bomber ram an explosives-laden vehicle into the mosque compound inside the Old Police Lines, followed by a second suicide blast and an exchange of fire with armed terrorists who had infiltrated the complex .
The Human Cost
Among the martyred were five police personnel and 11 civilians, most of whom were worshippers who had gathered for Friday prayers . The blast was powerful enough to cause the mosque's roof to collapse and leave a crater outside the building . Over 50 injured were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital, where an emergency was declared .
Rescue 1122 teams deployed 14 ambulances and over 45 personnel to the scene, working tirelessly to recover victims from the rubble .
Afghan Suicide Bomber Identified
Preliminary investigations indicate the suicide bomber was an┬аAfghan national, according to security sources. The attack was claimed by a relatively unknown militant alliance,┬аIttehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP)┬а, comprising the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Harakat Inqilab-e-Islami Pakistan, and Lashkar-e-Islam .
This attack follows a pattern of cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. Pakistan has consistently accused the Afghan Taliban regime of sheltering the TTP and permitting attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces. The presence of an Afghan national in yet another attack on Pakistani soil underscores the gravity of the threat.
A Nation Mourns
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack. President Zardari stated that "the complete elimination of Fitna-al-Khawarij and terrorists operating with foreign backing is inevitable for national security" .
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi described it as a "cowardly act of terrorism" and directed authorities to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured .
A Call for Unity: People First, Politics Later
In the wake of this tragedy, the nation must rise above political divisions. The time for protests, point-scoring, and partisan agendas is over.┬аAll parties must sit together, end useless protests, and take decisive action against terrorism.
The enemy is not among us-it operates from across the border, sheltered by those who claim to be our neighbors but send suicide bombers to our mosques.
People first. Politics later.
Pakistan's resolve will not be shaken. Every terrorist operating from Afghan soil will face Pakistan's full and decisive response.
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