By Web Desk
Lahore
Security forces on Saturday successfully concluded a grueling 20-hour clearance operation at the Old Police Lines complex in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eliminating all eight heavily armed militants who stormed the compound following a deadly suicide vehicle bombing during Friday prayers. The complex has been declared completely cleared and secured, official authorities confirmed.
The assault, which began on Friday afternoon, targeted the compound's mosque while police officers, personnel, and civilian worshippers were gathered for congregational prayers. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the compound gate, causing massive structural damage to the perimeter and the mosque. Moments later, a second suicide attacker detonated explosives near the Special Branch building, allowing a group of heavily armed militants to infiltrate the offices of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and adjacent police installations.
Joint Clearance Operation and Tactical Room-by-Room Search
Following the initial blasts, a joint tactical counter-offensive was immediately launched by the Pakistan Army, Elite Police commandos, and the Counter-Terrorism Department. Ground forces quickly cordoned off the entire cantonment perimeter, isolating the militants inside designated office blocks to prevent any potential hostage situation or expansion toward residential quarters.
The operation continued through Friday night with intense exchanges of gunfire and controlled detonations as security forces conducted room-by-room clearance across multi-storey administrative wings. By Saturday morning, all eight infiltrating terrorists were confirmed dead. Bomb disposal squads subsequently moved in to defuse unexploded suicide vests, hand grenades, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) scattered across the compound.
Casualties and Emergency Response
Hospital authorities and emergency response officials confirmed that at least 31 people lost their lives in the suicide bombing and ensuing confrontation, including 17 police personnel and several civilians present at the mosque. More than 100 individuals sustained injuries of varying severity, with emergency protocols activated across Kohat Division hospitals and critically wounded patients transferred to tertiary care facilities in Peshawar.
Rescue 1122 teams and military medical units worked alongside local volunteers throughout the night to evacuate the injured, clear debris from the collapsed section of the mosque, and provide blood transfusions. Regional health officials reported that the majority of the injured are now in stable condition following emergency surgical procedures.
Official Statements and Heightened Security Measures
Senior officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police commended the bravery and swift tactical coordination of the responding personnel, emphasizing that the resolute response thwarted the attackers' primary objective of taking over the CTD operational headquarters. Funeral prayers for the martyred police officers were offered with full official honors at the Police Lines parade ground, attended by senior civil and military leadership.
The militant group Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan claimed responsibility for the assault. Authorities noted that a comprehensive forensic investigation is underway to trace the logistics, handlers, and origin of the explosive-laden vehicle used in the attack. The provincial administration has directed enhanced security across all law enforcement facilities, sensitive government buildings, and border checkposts throughout the province.
Readers can follow live regional developments and verified security reports on INPK news coverage as provincial authorities finalize the comprehensive incident inquiry.