A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a roadside police checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 12 people and wounding about 30 others.
Suicide Blast Shatters Aman Mela Checkpost in Darazinda
The explosion ripped through the Aman Mela checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan’s Darazinda tehsil on Saturday, destroying a large portion of the security post and completely demolishing an adjacent house. Local residents reported hearing the blast from a considerable distance, followed by heavy gunfire.
Police chief Safdar Baloch stated that most of those killed and wounded were security personnel and passersby. The initial casualty count included police officers, customs officials, and forest department members. However, DI Khan Regional Police Officer Ghulam Mubashir Maken later noted in an initial assessment that the dead comprised nine men, two women, and a minor, clarifying that no law enforcement or security personnel were among the deceased.
Emergency services rushed to the site despite severe communication hurdles. Mobile phone services were unavailable in the area as Rescue 1122 teams deployed more than 25 personnel, six ambulances, and a fire vehicle to evacuate the wounded to the district headquarters hospital.
Rescue Workers Attacked Under Fire During Evacuation
The tragedy deepened when emergency responders came under direct attack. Unidentified assailants opened fire on a Rescue 1122 ambulance as it transported bodies from the initial blast scene near Aman Mela.
Two rescue workers, identified as Sharifullah and Imtiaz, were killed in the gunfire, while a third worker named Anees sustained serious injuries. Despite the ambush, rescue personnel continued their operations to retrieve the victims and assist the wounded.
The checkpoint itself serves a critical logistical and security function. Situated along the DI Khan-Quetta Road near Mughal Kot, the post sits at the crossroads of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab provinces. Because of the heavy flow of commercial goods through the corridor, customs officials are stationed alongside police to prevent smuggling.
TTP Claims Responsibility Amid Rising Cross-Border Tensions
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as the TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan’s political leadership responded with strong condemnations.
“The attack is a nefarious conspiracy by Fitna al-Hindustan Khawarij.”
Faisal Karim Kundi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor
President Asif Ali Zardari ordered officials to ensure the best medical treatment for the wounded and called for stronger counter-terrorism measures.
“Making innocent citizens and law enforcement personnel a target of terrorism is highly condemnable. Operations against terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan and Fitna al Khawarij, who perpetrate heinous acts with foreign support, must be made more effective.”
Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan
The bombing arrived during a volatile week for the region. Just two days prior to the attack, fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border killed at least 13 Afghan Taliban fighters following Pakistani strikes on suspected militant hideouts inside Afghanistan. Pakistani officials have repeatedly accused Kabul of harboring TTP fighters, an allegation the Afghan Taliban denies. The renewed hostilities threaten ongoing mediation efforts by regional powers including China, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
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