A suicide bomber has killed at least 14 people, including civilians and police officers, and wounded more than two dozen others, after targeting an anti-militant rally in northwestern Pakistan’s Swat Valley on Sunday.
The attack took place in Kabal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where demonstrators had gathered near a police station, chanting anti-militant slogans and demanding peace, according to district police chief Omar Khan.
Witnesses reported that speakers at the rally had stressed that ensuring security and eliminating militancy were the state’s responsibility. They also accused authorities of failing to act decisively against militants, articulating residents’ desire to live without fear after years of devastating violence in the region.
Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial emergency service, stated the attacker struck dozens of people chanting anti-militant slogans.
Police official Omar Khan specified that at least nine civilians and five officers were among the dead. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow and offering condolences to victims’ families.
They also directed authorities to ensure the wounded received the best possible medical treatment, vowing Pakistan’s fight against terrorism would continue until eradicated. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also extended his condolences and prayers.
open image in galleryThe Swat Valley, once a stronghold for Islamic militants who imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law, were driven out by a major Pakistani military operation in 2007.
However, militants have resurfaced in recent months, fuelling fears that the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are seeking to regain a foothold.
This resurgence has prompted residents to stage repeated anti-Taliban rallies protesting the militants’ presence.
While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, suspicion is likely to fall on the TTP. The group is distinct from, but allied with, Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers; many of its leaders and fighters have reportedly found sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harbouring TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies.
open image in galleryPakistan has experienced a significant surge in militant attacks in recent years, with police and security forces frequently targeted. On Friday, Pakistan’s military spokesman Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry revealed the country has recorded 3,145 “terrorism incidents” since January.
He stated 2,084 militants had been killed in the same period, while 819 Pakistanis, including soldiers, police officers, and civilians, had lost their lives.
Chaudhry further alleged Afghanistan-based militants had carried out 28 suicide attacks in Pakistan since January, claiming most were perpetrated by Afghan nationals or individuals associated with Afghanistan’s security forces. He asserted the TTP and other militant groups were conducting attacks inside Pakistan with the support of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, and affirmed Pakistan would continue to target the TTP and its support infrastructure. The attack underscores the volatile security situation and the ongoing struggle against militancy in the region.