'Heinous and cowardly': UNSC condemns Kohat terrorist attack, calls for accountability for perpetrators, sponsors

On September 18, a devastating terrorist attack struck Kohat, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The assault, carried out in two phases, left at least 23 individuals dead - including 17 policemen and six civilians - and left more than 90 injured. The attack began with the detonation of an explosives-laden vehicle near a mosque during Friday prayers, followed by a violent assault on the compound by terrorists.

In response to the tragedy, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a strong condemnation, calling the attack "heinous and cowardly." UNSC President Jérôme Bonnafont, representing France, expressed deep distress and emphasized the need to hold those responsible accountable. UNSC member states conveyed their sympathy to the victims' families and the government and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

They also stressed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations poses a grave threat to international peace and security.

The UNSC urged all states to cooperate with Pakistan in investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of the attack. They reiterated that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, where, when, or by whom it is committed. The Security Council reaffirmed the importance of combating terrorist threats by all means, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and other international legal obligations, including human rights and humanitarian laws.

The attack was claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Ittehadul Mujahideen. KP police confirmed that a clearance operation following the incident had successfully ended, with key buildings cleared by Elite Force commandos, Counterterrorism Department teams, and security forces. Chief Minister Pervez Afridi had requested a detailed report on the attack earlier in the week, emphasizing the unacceptable targeting of innocent civilians.

In a related incident, in 2010, a remote-controlled bomb blast inside a police colony near Kohat killed 20 people, mostly relatives of policemen, and injured over 90 others during Ramadan Iftar celebrations. In response to recent terrorist attacks, including the Kohat bombing, the Pakistani armed forces conducted airstrikes on terrorist sites along the border with Afghanistan, resulting in the death of more than 28 terrorists.

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, reaffirmed the military's commitment to defeating terrorism and ensuring lasting peace and stability.