At least 14 people were killed in a suspected suicide bombing outside a police station in northwestern Pakistan on August 2, officials said, amid escalating militant violence in the region. The blast occurred in the Kabal area of Swat district, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The explosion took place during a pro-police rally organized by local residents, though it remains unclear if the gathering was the specific target. According to Fida Hussain, a regional police official, the fatalities included five police officers and eight civilians. The 14th casualty was believed to be the attacker. Additionally, a police statement reported that at least 15 people were wounded in the explosion and confirmed that an operation was underway to apprehend any accomplices involved in the attack.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group active in the region, claimed responsibility for the bombing in a public statement.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life. The incident underscores a recent surge in militancy in the country’s border areas, where military and police forces have increasingly become targets.

According to a military spokesman, clashes between militants and security forces have resulted in the deaths of 819 security personnel and civilians so far in 2026. Pakistan has attributed much of the violence in its border provinces to militant groups operating from Afghan territory. However, the Taliban government in Kabul has denied any involvement.

These mutual accusations have further strained relations between the two neighboring countries, occasionally escalating into armed confrontations. Pakistan has conducted air strikes it says target militants within Afghanistan. The Taliban administration and the United Nations have reported that dozens of civilians were killed during Pakistan’s recent strikes on eastern Afghanistan in June.