Post by : Badri Ariffin

A suicide bomber targeted an anti-militant protest in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 14 people, including police officers and civilians, while injuring more than two dozen others. The attack took place in Kabal town in the Swat Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where residents had gathered to demand peace and protest against growing militant activity.

Protesters Gathered to Demand Peace

According to district police chief Omar Khan, the demonstration was being held near a police station in Kabal. Participants were chanting anti-militant slogans and calling for stronger action against armed groups operating in the region.

Witnesses said speakers at the rally stressed that maintaining law and order and eliminating militancy were the responsibility of the state. They also criticized the authorities for not taking stronger measures against militants, saying local people wanted to live without fear after years of violence that had affected the Swat Valley.

Suicide Blast Leaves 14 Dead

Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial emergency service, said the suicide attacker struck while dozens of protesters were chanting slogans for peace.

Police official Omar Khan confirmed that at least 14 people lost their lives in the bombing. The victims included nine civilians and five police officers. More than 24 others were injured in the explosion and were taken for medical treatment.

Pakistan's Leaders Condemn the Attack

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the suicide bombing in separate statements.

Both leaders expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, offered condolences to the families of those killed, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. They also instructed authorities to provide the best possible medical care to those receiving treatment.

Zardari and Sharif said Pakistan's campaign against terrorism would continue until the threat is completely eliminated.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack, extending his sympathies to the victims' families and wishing those injured a quick recovery.

Swat Valley Faces Renewed Militant Threat

The Swat Valley was once controlled by Islamic militants who enforced a strict interpretation of Sharia law before Pakistan's military launched a major operation in 2007 that removed them from the area and restored government control.

In recent months, however, militants have reappeared in parts of the valley, raising concerns that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is attempting to rebuild its presence. Residents have responded by organizing repeated anti-Taliban demonstrations to oppose militant activity and demand lasting peace.

Suspicion Falls on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan

No organization immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.

However, suspicion is expected to focus on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that operates separately from, but maintains ties with, Afghanistan's Taliban government. Many TTP leaders and fighters have been based in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan's Taliban authorities of providing safe haven to TTP militants, an allegation the Afghan government has consistently denied.

Pakistan Reports Rising Terror Attacks

Pakistan has witnessed a significant increase in militant violence in recent years, with police personnel and security forces frequently coming under attack.

On Friday, military spokesperson Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan had recorded 3,145 terrorism-related incidents since January. He stated that security forces had killed 2,084 militants during the same period, while 819 Pakistanis—including soldiers, police officers, and civilians—had lost their lives.

Chaudhry also said that militants based in Afghanistan had carried out 28 suicide attacks in Pakistan since January. He alleged that most of the attackers were Afghan nationals or individuals linked to Afghanistan's security forces.

He further claimed that TTP and other militant groups continue to carry out attacks inside Pakistan with support from Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, adding that Pakistan would continue operations against the TTP and its support network.

#Global News #Pakistan #Global Updates #World News