Kohat Police Lines operation ends with 8 militants killed

Security forces have completed a clearance operation at the Kohat Police Lines, killing eight militants who stormed the compound following suicide attacks, as the death toll from the violence rose to 23, officials said. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said on Friday that police and security forces had eliminated eight attackers and cleared key buildings inside the Police Lines compound. The militants who had entered the Special Branch building were among those killed during the operation, which continued overnight before security forces declared the premises cleared. PMDC withdraws decision on five-year BDS programme The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) additional inspector general personally led and supervised the operation. Officials said he sustained an arm injury after militants targeted him with a hand grenade but returned to the site after receiving medical treatment. IGP Hameed said Elite Force commandos, CTD personnel and security forces jointly carried out the operation. The CTD additional IG, regional police officer and district police officer led the operation on the ground, while the General Officer Commanding Kohat was also present at the site. The death toll from the attacks and subsequent exchange of fire has risen to 23. Those killed included a superintendent of police, a deputy superintendent of police and an inspector, along with other police personnel and civilians. Pakistan calls for halt to Houthi attacks on merchant vessels The attack began when an explosives-laden vehicle was rammed into the Old Police Lines, followed by another suicide bombing near the Special Branch building. The explosions caused extensive damage, including to the outer portion of a mosque, while a wall also collapsed. Officials said seven armed militants subsequently entered the Police Lines compound, triggering an exchange of fire with police and CTD personnel. A militant sniper was initially killed before security forces launched a wider clearance operation. At least 103 injured people were taken to hospital following the attack, officials said. Thirty-four remained under treatment, while five patients underwent laparotomy procedures. Four critically wounded patients were referred to hospitals in Peshawar. An emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Hospital following the attack, while the Kohat-Hangu Road was closed to traffic as security and rescue operations continued. Rescue 1122 deployed 14 ambulances and rescue and recovery vehicles, along with more than 40 personnel. District Emergency Officer Noorul Amin supervised the rescue operation. Rescue personnel also recovered the bodies of two security personnel from the rubble and shifted them to Kohat Hospital. Funeral prayers for those killed were later offered. IGP Hameed said the KP police remained committed to fighting terrorism and that such attacks would not weaken the force's resolve. He also announced rewards for personnel who participated in the clearance operation. Cuba suffers nationwide power blackout amid energy crisis President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed grief over the loss of lives. The president said the elimination of militants – referred to by the government as 'Fitna al-Khawarij' – was essential for national security and called for adequate medical treatment for the wounded. The prime minister directed the authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured, expedite relief operations and submit a report on the nature and causes of the attack. KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also sought a report from police authorities and directed officials to ensure adequate treatment for the wounded, including shifting critically injured patients to other hospitals where necessary. He ordered the authorities to investigate all aspects of the attack and submit a detailed report.