PESHAWAR: Security sources have confirmed that the attackers involved in the attack on the Federal Constabulary (FC) Headquarters in Peshawar were Afghan nationals.
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According to officials, all three fitna al khwarij militants during the operation were citizens of Afghanistan.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the deceased attackers, security sources added.
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The attack took place just after 8 a.m. on one of Peshawar’s busiest roads. Footage from the scene showed a militant dressed in a chaddor approaching the gate before detonating himself, while moments later, two other attackers attempted to breach the compound.
At the time, the main headquarters was holding a weekly assembly for the first working day of the week.
“Three militants initially targeted the headquarters. One detonated himself at the gate, and the remaining two were shot dead by FC personnel before they could enter,” said Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dr. Mian Saeed Ahmad in a briefing to reporters.
In response, an emergency was declared at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar’s largest public hospital, as well as at Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH). Hospital officials confirmed that 11 injured individuals were admitted to LRH, while KTH received one patient.
Sadaf Kamal, spokesperson for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, announced that services along the main corridor had been temporarily halted, though feeder routes continued to operate normally.
This marks the second significant attack on a security installation in Peshawar in the past three years. In February 2023, a suicide bombing at a mosque in the city’s Police Lines area claimed 84 lives.
Leaders condemn Peshawar FC attack:
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider Khan, and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, in separate statements, condemned the attack as a cowardly act and paid tribute to the brave personnel who lost their lives.
In their reactions, President Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif said the courageous FC personnel sacrificed their lives to foil a major terrorist plot. They added that the prompt action by security forces prevented large-scale casualties. Both leaders reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support the Pakistan Armed Forces and other security agencies until the last terrorist is eliminated.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the security personnel who thwarted the terrorists’ sinister plans as national heroes. He emphasized that the sacrifices of the youth will never go in vain and vowed to continue the fight against terrorism with renewed determination.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi called the attack extremely regrettable and intolerable, stressing that terrorists have no religion and such cowardly acts cannot dampen public morale. He has asked the provincial IG for an immediate report and directed that the injured be provided with the best possible medical care.
Afridi praised the FC personnel for preventing a major disaster and said their sacrifices are a source of pride. He assured that the blood of the martyrs would not go in vain and that those responsible would soon face the law. The Chief Minister also reiterated the provincial government’s full support for the police and law enforcement agencies, committing all available resources to ensure peace and eliminate terrorism. He prayed for the souls of the martyrs and patience for their families.
Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also strongly condemned the attack and reaffirmed their determination to jointly combat terrorism.
