Peshawar IED Blast Targets Police Van, Injures Two Officers
Two police personnel were injured on Sunday afternoon when an improvised explosive device struck a police van near Pir Zakorhi Bridge in Peshawar. The targeted explosion occurred close to the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway toll plaza, damaging the vehicle and prompting an immediate security and emergency response.
Police said the van's driver and a constable suffered minor injuries in the blast. Both officers were transported to a hospital for medical examination and treatment, while officials confirmed that their condition was stable and that neither had sustained life-threatening wounds.
Initial findings indicated that the explosive device had been planted in a green belt beside the road and detonated as the police vehicle passed the location. The impact damaged the front section of the van, leaving debris scattered around the site and forcing authorities to secure the surrounding area.
Peshawar police spokesperson Alam Khan confirmed that the injured personnel had been shifted to hospital. Senior Superintendent of Police Farhan Khan said the incident involved a roadside IED and added that the bomb disposal unit was examining the green belt for any additional explosive material.
Bomb disposal specialists reached the scene soon after the explosion was reported and began searching the area for secondary devices. Such searches are considered essential after targeted blasts because additional explosives may be placed nearby to endanger rescuers, investigators or security personnel arriving after the first detonation.
The attack comes amid heightened security concerns across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Days earlier, nine police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were martyred and 28 others were injured when militants attacked a checkpost in Hangu district, intensifying pressure on law-enforcement agencies operating in the province.
Another recent security operation in the mountainous areas of Swat's Kabal and Matta tehsils resulted in the deaths of a policeman and four members of a village defence committee. Authorities also reported that six militants were killed during the joint action, reflecting the continuing volatility in several parts of the province.
A recent assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies reported that 112 security personnel lost their lives in terrorist attacks during July. The organisation described it as the highest monthly toll since January 2023, while mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a sharp increase in deaths and injuries compared with June.
The Peshawar blast is likely to lead to stronger patrols, route inspections and intelligence-led operations around police installations and major transport corridors. Investigators are expected to examine explosive fragments, surveillance footage and local movement records as they work to identify those responsible and determine whether the attack was connected to a wider militant network.