A suicide bomber targeted a police checkpost in Pakistan’s Bhakkar district on Tuesday evening, killing four policemen and injuring several others in an attack that has heightened security concerns in the region. The explosion occurred around 7 pm near a bridge connecting Dera Ismail Khan with Punjab, according to local police officials.
Initial reports had indicated that two police personnel were killed and four injured, but officials later confirmed that the death toll had risen to four. The wounded officers were immediately shifted to the district headquarters hospital, where they received medical treatment. Authorities said the blast took place while police were conducting a routine search operation in the area.
Bhakkar District Police Officer Shahzad Rafiq told reporters that the suicide attacker approached the checkpost and detonated explosives at close range. CCTV footage from the scene reportedly shows a man wearing a black shawl walking briskly toward the security point moments before the explosion. Several law enforcement personnel were present nearby when the blast occurred.
Following the attack, security was placed on high alert across Bhakkar district and neighboring Dera Ismail Khan. Officials temporarily shut down the main highway linking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab as a precautionary measure. Police also closed traffic near the Dera Darya Khan bridge and launched a search operation in surrounding areas to rule out the presence of additional threats.
A lesser-known extremist outfit, Ittehadul Mujahideen Pakistan-affiliated Ansar al Islam Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the bombing. In a statement, the group said its operative, identified as Abu Darda, carried out the suicide mission. The two deceased officers were identified as Muhammad Faheem and Muhammad Shehbaz.
The Bhakkar attack came on the same day as another deadly incident in Kohat city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Militants ambushed a police patrol there, killing five officers and setting their vehicle on fire, according to a police spokesperson. Two civilians later died from injuries sustained in that assault.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for both attacks. Pakistan has witnessed a noticeable surge in militant violence in recent years, with authorities frequently blaming the TTP and banned Baloch separatist groups.
The latest incidents also come amid rising regional tensions. Pakistan recently conducted air strikes inside Afghanistan, saying the operations targeted militant hideouts linked to a wave of suicide bombings on Pakistani soil. Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that armed groups are operating from Afghan territory to launch cross-border attacks, an accusation Kabul has denied, describing militancy as Pakistan’s internal challenge.
Security agencies continue to investigate the Bhakkar blast as officials warn of an elevated threat environment across vulnerable districts.
