Two suicide bombers launched an attack on the headquarters of a security force in Peshawar, Pakistan, on the morning of March 15, 2024, resulting in the deaths of at least three officers and injuring five others, according to local police and rescue officials. The assault targeted the provincial headquarters of the Federal Constabulary, situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.
The incident unfolded when one attacker detonated explosives at the main gate, while the second bomber was shot dead by security forces near the parking area. City Police Chief Saeed Ahmad reported that a significant number of security personnel were gathered for morning parade drills inside the headquarters at the time of the attack. “The terrorists involved in today’s attack were on foot and failed to reach the parade area. A timely response by our forces prevented a much larger tragedy,” he stated in comments to the Associated Press.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which mirrors previous assaults attributed to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This group, distinct yet allied with the Afghan Taliban, has been linked to a rise in militant violence across the country. The recent attack in Peshawar follows closely on the heels of another suicide bombing that occurred less than two weeks earlier, where 12 people were killed outside a court in Islamabad.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have become increasingly strained due to these incidents. Pakistan has consistently accused the TTP of operating with impunity in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. In response to rising tensions, the Pakistani government has intensified military operations against the TTP, resulting in the deaths of numerous militants in regions adjacent to the Afghan border.
On October 9, 2023, a series of drone strikes carried out by Pakistan in Kabul further escalated tensions. Following these strikes, Afghanistan condemned Pakistan and vowed retaliation, leading to skirmishes that claimed the lives of soldiers, civilians, and militants alike. A ceasefire negotiated by Qatar on October 19 remains in effect, but peace talks held in Istanbul have yet to yield a formal agreement, largely due to Afghanistan’s reluctance to provide written assurances against TTP activities on its territory.
The ongoing violence emphasizes the complex and often fraught relationship between the two neighboring countries, with Pakistan’s government facing increasing pressure to curb domestic terrorism while managing its diplomatic ties with Afghanistan. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as both nations navigate this precarious landscape.
Reporting by Rasool Dawar from Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this story.
