11 killed, 30 injured as suicide bomber rams explosives-laden vehicle into Pakistan police checkpoint

A roadside police checkpoint in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was turned into a scene of devastation on Saturday after a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle, killing at least 11 people and injuring around 30 others.

The blast took place in Dera Ismail Khan district, where emergency teams rushed the dead and injured to a nearby hospital.

Some of those wounded were reported to be in critical condition, according to police and rescue officials.

The attack adds to a growing pattern of militant violence in Pakistan’s northwestern region, where security forces have repeatedly faced attacks by armed groups in recent years.

Provincial emergency service spokesperson Bilal Faizi confirmed the casualties following the explosion.

Police said rescue operations were underway and the injured were being treated at a nearby medical facility.

TTP claims responsibility

The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement.

The TTP is a separate organisation from the Afghan Taliban, although the two groups are allied. The Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant attacks in recent years, with the TTP and the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) among the groups that have claimed responsibility for attacks.

While the TTP has been active across parts of Pakistan, the BLA is primarily associated with separatist violence in neighbouring Balochistan province.

The latest bombing came amid heightened security activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Blast follows operation against suspected militants

Just two days before the Dera Ismail Khan bombing, Pakistani security forces had killed eight suspected militants during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to a police official, the operation was launched on September 24 after security agencies received intelligence about the presence of militants in the area.

An exchange of fire followed, leaving eight suspected militants dead, the official said.

Security forces also destroyed the militants’ hideout and recovered weapons, ammunition and other military equipment.

Police said the suspected militants had allegedly tried to use a mosque as a shield to evade security forces.

This forced personnel to proceed with the operation with extreme caution.

The sequence of events highlights the continuing security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region that has experienced repeated militant attacks, military operations and reports of cross-border movement of fighters from Afghanistan.

Videos emerge from blast site

Unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show a thick cloud of grey smoke rising from the reported site of the explosion.

One video purportedly recorded close to the scene showed debris scattered across the area, including bricks and other material apparently damaged by the force of the blast.

The visuals could not be independently verified.

Authorities are continuing to assess the extent of the damage and investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The latest casualty figures stand at at least 11 dead and around 30 injured, although the condition of some of the wounded remains critical.