Suspected suicide bombing at police station kills at least 14 in Pakistan, officials say

A suspected suicide bombing outside a police station in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday resulted in at least 14 fatalities, officials reported. The explosion occurred in the Kabal area of Swat district, within Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, during a pro-police rally involving local residents. It remains uncertain if the rally was the intended target.

Among the victims were five police officers, eight civilians, and the suicide bomber, identified as the 14th person. A total of 18 individuals sustained injuries, as per a police statement. Authorities have launched an operation to apprehend anyone who may have aided the attack. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

Pakistan’s border regions have witnessed a surge in militancy in recent months, primarily targeting the military and police, with the government attributing the escalation to the Afghan Taliban, which denies the accusations.