On Friday, a tragic incident unfolded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan district as a remote-controlled bomb detonated near Jalala bridge, claiming three lives and leaving seven others wounded. According to local police, the explosive device targeted a passing police van, damaging the vehicle and a nearby rickshaw. Among the casualties were two police officers, with the injured rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
SP Khalid Khan confirmed the attack, attributing it to "unidentified terrorists" who orchestrated the blast. Following the explosion, a swift response from law enforcement included a thorough search operation in the area. Rescue efforts were also promptly initiated, directing the wounded to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Takhtbhai and Mardan Medical Complex.
The tragic incident drew swift condemnation from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who expressed condolences to the victims and their families. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam similarly denounced the attack, highlighting the ongoing threat of terrorism in Pakistan.
This unfortunate event adds to a recent spate of violence across the country, underscoring the challenges posed by militant groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which have escalated attacks following the breakdown of a government truce in late 2022. In response, Pakistan has intensified efforts with Operation Azm-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), aimed at combating terrorism and extremism nationwide.