Pakistan attack kills 16 near police mosque

An attack in northwest Pakistan has killed sixteen people and wounded fifty-seven. The attack occurred in Kohat, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, when a suicide attacker detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a police facility. The blast targeted a mosque within the police compound, where officers and their families were observing Friday prayers. Five police officers and eleven civilians were among the dead.After the initial explosion, armed assailants attempted to storm the police compound and engaged security forces in a fierce gun battle. All seven attackers were killed during the confrontation. The attack caused significant damage; videos showed the outer wall of the police facility ripped apart and rescuers pulling the injured from the debris.No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. Authorities noted a recent surge in militant activity in Pakistan's border regions, particularly targeting military and police. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a major militant group, issued a statement disowning involvement in this attack.Pakistan's Interior Ministry condemned the actions, stating such "cowardly acts" would not weaken national resolve. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the casualties and directed authorities to accelerate rescue operations.The attack highlights ongoing security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a border province with Afghanistan. Islamabad asserts that militants exploit safe havens in Afghanistan to plan attacks within Pakistan. Afghanistan's administration has consistently denied these accusations, maintaining that militancy is an internal Pakistani issue.