ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s investigation authorities on Sunday confirmed that the facilitators of last year’s suicide attack on the Federal Constabulary (FC) Headquarters in the northwestern city of Peshawar were Afghan nationals.
Investigators said the attack was planned across the border, with several key suspects arrested in connection with the case.
The suicide bombing, which took place on November 24 last year, killed three FC personnel and injured five others. Eight civilians were also wounded.
The FC is a police force based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It was established in 1913 through the merger of two smaller paramilitary forces, the Border Military Police and Samana Rifles.
It was originally called the Frontier Constabulary until it was renamed by the government in July.
Authorities said the planning and coordination of the attack were carried out in Afghanistan, adding that all three suicide bombers involved were Afghan nationals.
Officials noted that evidence gathered during the investigation has reinforced the case and helped uncover the network behind the attack.
The attack was the second major terrorist attack on a security installation in Peshawar in the last three years.
In February 2023, 84 people were killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines.
Pakistan is facing growing security challenges from Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 has caused a surge in cross-border terror attacks.
Reports indicate that the Taliban regime is providing support to terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil to target Pakistan.
After the Taliban’s return to power, Islamabad now faces direct security threats from Afghanistan, particularly from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group.
Pakistan kept its embassy open when most countries left, helped people leave during the chaotic NATO exit, and worked hard to get other countries to help with humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s initial engagement with the Taliban following their return to power under the 2021 Doha agreement aimed to foster a peaceful and stable neighbour, but the Taliban have failed to honour their commitments.
Multiple international reports, including those from the United Nations and the United States’ Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), show terrorist groups continue to operate in Afghanistan because of the Taliban’s policy and support.
