DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN – An early morning suicide bombing at a police station took place in the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. The horrifying incident resulted in the death of at least 23 officers on Tuesday, according to governmental authorities. The explosion, which injured 32 others, caused substantial damage, collapsing a part of the targeted building and hitting nearby shops and businesses.
Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a newly established militant group suspected to be an offshoot of the known Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the attack. It is considered to be one of Pakistan’s most lethal attacks in recent months.
Additional reports indicated six assailants accompanied the suicide bomber in the initial assault at the Daraban police station. A gunfire exchange ensued for several hours, culminating in the death of all six attackers.
The injuries sustained by the officers ranged from severe to critical, causing rising concern that the final death toll may increase. According to a senior police official, Mohammad Adnan, all the casualties were rushed to a local hospital for treatment. A follow-up from the military confirmed the killing of “27 insurgents” during various operations in the same region on Tuesday.
This terror attack visibly impacts the strained relations between Pakistan and the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials accuse the Pakistani Taliban of exploiting the volatile security situation following the Afghan Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan in 2021. Amid escalating militancy, Pakistan is actively demanding the extradition of members of the Pakistani Taliban believed to be hiding in Afghanistan.