At least 11 killed, 18 injured in K-P’s Dera Ismail Khan blast

At least 12 people were killed and 35 others injured when a blast struck a joint checkpoint near Aman Mela in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan on Saturday, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claiming responsibility for the attack, police said.

Radio Pakistan reported that the blast was extremely powerful after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) rammed into the checkpost.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ghulam Mubashir Maken said in a statement that 12 people were killed and 35 injured in the blast at the joint checkpoint.

One Customs official was among those killed while the remaining victims were civilians, he said, adding that no Pakistan Army or police personnel were among the deceased.

Makan said the dead included nine men, two women and a child.

Of the 35 injured, he said, 25 were referred to the District Headquarters Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, while efforts were under way to provide immediate medical aid to the wounded and shift them to hospitals.

Reuters reported that the TTP claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack.

K-P Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfikar Hameed, in a statement, said that the blast occurred at a “joint checkpoint established for anti-smuggling operations” near the Darazinda Aman Mela in DIK.

He said police, security forces and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) teams rushed to the site immediately after receiving information about the explosion.

“Police and CTD personnel cordoned off the area and launched a search and clearance operation,” the IGP said, adding that evidence was being collected from the scene and efforts were underway to determine the nature and cause of the explosion.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said its Darazinda station team reached the site shortly after receiving information about the explosion and immediately launched relief and rescue operations.

“Additional ambulances and rescue personnel from Karak and Hangu have also reached the site to assist with the search and rescue operation,” he added.

According to the emergency service, 18 injured people have so far been provided medical assistance and shifted to hospitals.

“The bodies of 11 people killed in the blast have also been recovered from the site,” Faizi said.

“Six Rescue 1122 ambulances, one firefighting vehicle, and more than 25 personnel are taking part in the rescue and relief activities at the site,” the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, a Rescue 1122 ambulance came under fire while transporting the bodies. According to the Rescue 1122 spokesperson, one person was killed and two others were seriously injured in the firing.

The ambulance came under fire near Daraban while it was transporting the injured from the blast site, he said.

The martyred rescue official was identified as Sharifullah, while Inis and Imtiaz sustained serious injuries, according to the spokesperson..

Despite coming under fire, rescue operations continued, including the transportation of the deceased and other emergency response activities in the area.

On the instructions of DIK Emergency Officer Muhammad Arif Khan, four additional ambulances along with rescue personnel were dispatched from DIK to assist in the emergency response and ensure the injured were provided immediate medical treatment and transported to hospitals.

K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought a report from senior officials regarding the blast.

“The attack is a nefarious conspiracy by Fitna al-Hindustan,” Kundi said in a statement issued by his office.

Kundi also condemned the firing on Rescue 1122 personnel who were transporting the bodies of those martyred in the Darazinda attack, calling it “the height of brutality”.

In a post on X, the governor paid tribute to the two Rescue officials who were martyred while “carrying out their duty to save lives” while directing the authorities to provide the iunjured officials with every possible medical care.

Customs claims 15 personnel killed in DI Khan blast

Meanwhile, Pakistan Customs, in a statement, said 15 personnel of Pakistan Customs, Excise and Police were martyred in JCP Aman Mela checkpost attack.

According to the statement, a suicide attacker detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the checkpost, triggering a massive fire at the post.

It said a second attack took place while relief and rescue teams were carrying out operations following the blast, leaving the drivers of rescue vehicles injured.

The injured personnel were immediately shifted for medical treatment, while a medical emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Customs said.

Condolences pour in

President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the blast in Dera Ismail Khan, expressing grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack.

“Targeting innocent citizens and law enforcement personnel in terrorism is highly condemnable,” he said.

He prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and directed the relevant authorities to provide the injured with the best possible medical facilities and make relief efforts more effective.

The president also directed that operations against terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij involved in “nefarious and brutal acts under foreign patronage” be made more effective.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, expressing deep grief over the loss of precious lives in the blast.

“We will never let the sacrifices of the nation’s protectors in the fight against terrorism go in vain,” he said, adding that the government was determined to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country.

The prime minister conveyed his condolences and sympathies to the families of those killed and prayed for the early recovery of those injured in the attack.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the suicide attack.

In a statement issued by the ministry, Naqvi extended his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of those martyred in the blast and prayed for the early recovery of those wounded in the explosion.

“The cowardly actions of the Khawarij cannot weaken the nation’s firm resolve against terrorism,” the interior minister vowed, noting that K-P remained on the frontline in the fight against terrorism.

“People from every segment of society have made countless sacrifices in the war against terrorism. We hold these sacrifices in the highest regard,” the federal minister stated.

The minister pledged that the sacrifice of security personnel and civilians “would not be forgotten”.

Naqvi strongly condemned the firing on the ambulance and expressed grief over the death of the rescue worker.

He extended his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of the martyred official, saying the firing on an ambulance was an “extremely deplorable” incident.

“The brutal militants demonstrated the worst form of savagery,” Mr Naqvi said, adding that the firing on the ambulance could not be condemned strongly enough.

K-P Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi denounced the terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan and expressed deep remorse over the loss of lives in the blast.

In a video message, Afridi said the incident was not an isolated one, describing it as part of a “new wave of terrorism” in which Pakhtuns were being killed on a daily basis.

The chief minister said his government had previously raised concerns over “a policy of resettling terrorists”.

“We were sure that once again we would have to pick up bodies,” Afridi said, referring to the consequences of the policy. He said his government opposed decisions taken behind closed doors, arguing that their consequences ultimately affected the entire country.

“In the war against terrorism, our soldiers, police personnel and ordinary citizens are being martyred,” the chief minister said, expressing disdain.

Afridi further said that the same policy had been pursued for the past 22 years but had failed to establish lasting peace in K-P.

“We have repeatedly said that this policy needs to be changed, but our concerns are not being heard.”

The chief minister maintained that the provincial government was taking every possible step on its own to establish peace in the province.

He reiterated his condemnation of the Dera Ismail Khan attack and expressed solidarity with the families of those killed and affected by the blast.

K-P Information Minister Shafi Jan also decried the explosion.

In a statement, the minister called the incident “extremely tragic and condemnable” and condoled with the death of civilians.

“We stand with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident and share their grief,” Jan said, while praying for the speedy recovery of those wounded.

“K-P police, security forces and the people of the province had made countless sacrifices in the fight against terrorism,” he said, adding that effective measures will be taken to eliminate terrorism and protect the lives and property of the people.

He also asserted that terrorists could not undermine the resolve of the people of K-P through their “nefarious designs”.

Former K-P chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur also expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the attack, while extending his condolences to the families of the martyred personnel and civilians.

He prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and patience for the bereaved families. Gandapur also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also condemned the terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan, saying the incident, following the recent bloodshed in Kohat, was a “painful reminder” of the terrorism threat confronting the country.

In a statement on X, he expressed condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the recovery of the injured. “The nation stands firmly with our courageous police, law-enforcement agencies and security forces,” he said.

Bilawal said Pakistan had defeated terrorism in the past and would do so again, adding that terrorists, their facilitators, financiers and sponsors would be held accountable.

He further said that no territory beyond Pakistan’s borders would be allowed to serve as a sanctuary for terrorism against the country.

“We will neither be intimidated nor divided. Pakistan will prevail,” the PPP chairman said.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also strongly condemned the blast.

He expressed deep concern over the deaths of police personnel, customs officials and civilians in the attack.

CM Shah conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of those killed in the blast.

“Police and customs personnel who sacrifice their lives for the country and the nation are our pride. The entire nation stands with the security forces in the fight against terrorism,” Shah said.

He described those who target innocent civilians and dutiful security and government personnel as “enemies of humanity”, adding that such attacks would not weaken the country’s resolve against terrorism.

K-P has witnessed a significant rise in terrorist activities since last week, after 23 people, including 15 police personnel, were martyred in a blast at a mosque in Kohat’s Police Lines during Friday prayers. Eight terrorists were also killed during a subsequent search and clearance operation.

Later, the Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing and rampage involving multiple attackers.

In a separate incident, a captain and a lieutenant were among six security personnel martyred in an exchange of fire in Hangu district, while eight terrorists were killed.

Following a series of deadly attacks in K-P, Pakistan carried out “calibrated” air strikes against terrorist hideouts near the Afghan border and conducted intelligence-based ground operations that killed a total of 37 terrorists.

Pakistan’s air defence systems also shot down eight drones after they entered the country’s airspace from Afghanistan. Security sources said four of the drones were brought down in areas adjoining the Torkham border, while another four were shot down in mountainous areas near the border with Kohat.

Reacting to the attack, Pakistan carried out “precision” air and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan.