At least 21 people, including 15 police personnel and six civilians, were killed in the blast at a mosque in Kohat’s Police Lines during Friday prayers, according to an initial incident report issued by DHQ Hospital Kohat medical superintendent and the district health officer. The report said the blast occurred at approximately 1:20pm during Friday prayers at a mosque located at Police Lines on Hangu Road in Kohat, followed by a terrorist attack involving around five to seven terrorists. Of the 21 people killed, 15 were police personnel and six were civilians. The report identified one of the deceased civilians as Dr Israel Khan Aurakzai, Chief District Specialist (Paediatrics) at Liaqat Memorial Hospital, Kohat. It further said 103 injured people had been received at the two hospitals, including 13 at Liaqat Memorial Hospital and 90 at DHQ Hospital Kohat. The injured comprised 73 police personnel and 30 civilians. Of the total injured, 34 were admitted for treatment, while five patients underwent laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an incision into the abdomen. The report said four of the patients who underwent laparotomy had been referred to tertiary care facilities in Peshawar for further treatment. People carry an empty coffin box along a street leading to a police facility following a suicide attack at the facility in Kohat, Pakistan, September 18, 2026. Photo: Reuters It added that the situation was being closely monitored and all possible medical assistance was being provided to the injured at the relevant health facilities. According to the police, seven armed terrorists infiltrated the police lines following the explosion at the mosque. The police said six terrorists, including the suicide bomber, had been killed so far. Initially, a suicide attacker blew himself up near the Special Branch building after the explosion, it added. Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing and rampage involving multiple attackers. Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Taliban regime to deny the use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. However, the de facto rulers in Kabul have been reluctant to take action against terrorist groups operating from their territory. In a statement, K-P Police Public Relations director said the operation against the terrorists had entered its final stages under the direct supervision of the K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, with security personnel carrying out a clearance operation in the area. Hameed said authorities were tracing the terrorists and their facilitators and would ensure their complete elimination. He stated that police and the Counter Terrorism Department were engaged in an operation against Fitna al-Khawarij inside the police lines compound. Ambulances are seen at the site of an explosion near the police headquarters in Kohat in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on September 18, 2026. Photo: AFP “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police is standing as an iron wall against terrorism. Cowardly attacks cannot weaken our resolve,” he said. “The blood of the martyrs will not go to waste. The terrorists and their facilitators will meet an exemplary fate,” he added. Earlier, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi stated that 14 ambulances, rescue vehicles, a recovery vehicle and more than 45 rescue personnel were participating in the operation. District Emergency Officer Noor-ul-Amin was personally supervising the rescue operation, he said, adding that relief activities would continue until the operation was completed. He added that further details would be issued as more information was received.     President Zardari, PM Shehbaz strongly condemn President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the bomb blast in Old Police Lines, Kohat, Radio Pakistan reported on Friday. In separate messages, they expressed deep grief and sorrow over the injuries suffered by several people in the blast. The president said that the complete elimination of Fitna-al-Khawarij and terrorists operating with foreign backing was inevitable for national security. The prime minister sought a report from the authorities concerned on the blast and directed them to expedite relief operations. President @AAliZardari and Prime Minister @CMShehbaz have strongly condemned the bomb blast in Old Police Lines, Kohat@PresOfPakistan @PakPMO #News #RadioPakistan https://t.co/UUeNmCZSXM — Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 18, 2026 Mohsin Naqvi issues condemnation Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also strongly condemned the blast near the Old Police Lines in Kohat. He expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives, conveying his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families of the martyrs. He also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with the families of the martyrs in this hour of grief," Naqvi stated. He added that the cowardly acts of the Khawarij cannot weaken the firm resolve of the nation. وفاقی وزیرداخلہ محسن نقوی کی کوہاٹ میں اولڈ پولیس لائن کے قریب دھماکے کی پرزور مذمت وزیرداخلہ کا قیمتی انسانی جانوں کے ضیاع پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار وزیرداخلہ کا شہداء کے لواحقین سے دلی ہمدردی و اظہار تعزیت وفاقی وزیرداخلہ کی زخمیوں کی جلد صحتیابی کیلئے دعا — Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) September 18, 2026 K-P govt condemns attack K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the attack and directed authorities to ensure immediate medical treatment for those injured in the blast. Afridi sought a report on the incident from police authorities and described the attack as a “cowardly act of terrorism” that was “extremely regrettable and unacceptable”. He directed officials to use all available resources to provide medical assistance to the injured and ensure hospitals had the necessary facilities for their treatment. The chief minister also ordered arrangements to transfer critically injured people to other hospitals, if required, and called for all aspects of the incident to be examined before a detailed report was submitted. “Targeting innocent citizens is extremely regrettable and condemnable,” Afridi said. “The cowardly acts of terrorism cannot break the nation’s resolve,” he added. وزیر اعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا کا کوہاٹ اولڈ پولیس لائنز میں دھماکے کا نوٹس، واقعے کی شدید مذمت وزیر اعلیٰ نے پولیس حکام سے واقعے کی رپورٹ طلب کر لی pic.twitter.com/tRvndvCGOf — Information Department KP (@infokpgovt) September 18, 2026 K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the terrorist attack in Kohat, saying the province was facing multiple challenges, including terrorism and a protest by doctors. Speaking to the media, Kundi said the incident in Kohat was deeply tragic and “cannot be condemned enough”. “On one hand, there is terrorism and, on the other, doctors are protesting in the province,” he said, adding that K-P was currently facing several challenges. The governor criticised the provincial government for marching towards Islamabad while the law and order situation in the province remained precarious. He said the purpose of the march was to secure the release of “a convicted and disqualified person” from prison, but added that marching on Islamabad would not lead to his release. I strongly condemn the cowardly blast at the Old Police Lines in #Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Such acts of terror cannot break the resolve of our people or weaken our determination to defeat terrorism. My prayers are with those injured, and I urge that they receive immediate and… — Faisal Karim Kundi (@fkkundi) September 18, 2026 Kundi urged the provincial government to focus on governance instead of organising a long march or protests. “This is not the time for a long march and protest; it is time to focus on governance,” he said, urging the provincial government to also pay attention to the situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The governor said young people and businesspeople from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were promoting the province’s soft image in Punjab, adding that its youth were excelling in every field. He also referred to the regional situation, saying the conflict between Iran and the United States had created a crisis in the region. Kundi further said the federal government was asking for marriage halls and hotels to be closed as part of conservation measures. “Punjab may close these facilities, but our province is suffering from terrorism and cannot afford this,” he said. People gather at a damaged mosque following a suicide attack at a police facility in Kohat, Pakistan, September 18, 2026. Photo: Reuters K-P Information Minister Shafi Jan also strongly condemned the explosion near the old police lines in Kohat, expressing deep sorrow over the deaths reported in the incident. According to the information minister, initial reports suggested that several civilians were among those killed and injured in the blast, along with five police personnel. Jan said CM Afridi had taken serious notice of the incident and sought a report from the relevant authorities. He said emergency measures had been imposed at hospitals in Kohat and directed officials to ensure that the injured received the best possible medical treatment. “Targeting innocent civilians is an extremely regrettable and cowardly act,” Jan said. He said Islam, like other religions, did not permit such cowardly acts and added that terrorist attacks could not weaken the nation's resolve. “Terrorist elements will never succeed in achieving their nefarious objectives,” the minister said. کوہاٹ میں پرانی پولیس لائن کے قریب دھماکہ انتہائی قابل مذمت اور افسوسناک ہے۔ ابتدائی اطلاعات کے مطابق دھماکے میں پانچ پولیس اہلکاروں سمیت متعدد شہری شہید و زخمی ہوئے، وزیراعلیٰ @SohailAfridiISF نے واقعے کا سخت نوٹس لیا ہے، وزیراعلیٰ نے متعلقہ حکام سے واقعے کی رپورٹ طلب کرلی… pic.twitter.com/NdZj3CFYuj — Shafi Jan (@ShafiJanPTI) September 18, 2026 Meanwhile, K-P Law Minister Aftab Alam visited DHQ Hospital Kohat to meet those injured in the Police Lines mosque blast and inquire about their condition. During his visit, Alam directed the hospital administration to ensure that the injured were provided with the best possible medical treatment and that all available resources were utilised for their care. The provincial law minister expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the blast, saying 16 people had been killed and 67 others injured in the attack. He condemned the targeting of innocent civilians, describing it as an inhumane act, and said the terrorists’ “nefarious designs” would not be allowed to succeed. Alam also appealed to the public to donate blood for the injured, saying timely medical treatment could be facilitated through blood donations. This is a developing story.