Suicide attack on paramilitary headquarters in Pakistan’s Peshawar kills three personnel

Suicide attackers struck a paramilitary Federal Corps (FC) headquarters in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Monday, killing three FC personnel, wounding at least five others and triggering a large-scale security operation, officials said.

Peshawar police chief Dr Mian Saeed said one suicide bomber detonated explosives at the main gate of the FC compound in the Saddar area, while two others entered the premises. Both were later shot dead in a firefight with security forces.

Saeed confirmed that all three attackers had been neutralized and that a clearance operation was still underway, though the situation was now under control.

Security forces rushed to the area immediately after the first explosion, and heavy contingents of the Army, Frontier Corps, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and police participated in the operation. The road leading to the headquarters was sealed, and the wider area was placed on high alert.

CTD sources, on the condition of anonymity, told Nukta that an initial investigation suggests that the blast occurred while a parade was in progress inside the quarters where around 450 personnel were present at the time of the parade. "The attackers arrived on foot, who were wearing suicide vests, the target of the terrorists was the parade," the sources added.

Rescue workers inspect a damaged vehicle after suicide bombers targeted the headquarters of a Pakistani paramilitary force in Peshawar, Pakistan, November 24, 2025. Reuters

Security sources identified the three personnel who died while stopping the attackers:

• Havaldar Alamzeb — Platoon 277
• Sepoy Riyast — Platoon 478
• Sepoy Altaf — Platoon 277

Injured personnel

• Lance Naik Zake — Platoon 277
• Sepoy Arshad — BDS
• Sepoy Attaullah — Platoon 147
• Sepoy Irfan — Platoon 147

A spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital, Muhammad Asim, said the injured personnel were transported to the facility, where an emergency had been declared.

The FC headquarters is located in a densely populated area near a military cantonment.

The security sources said the attackers appear to have Afghanistan-based affiliations, consistent with other recent incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The assault showed evidence of external planning, cross-border coordination, and tactical preparation.

Paramilitary soldiers secure the entrance of the headquarters of a Pakistani paramilitary force after suicide bombers targeted it in Peshawar, Pakistan, November 24, 2025. Reuters

Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concern about militants using Afghan territory to stage attacks. The FC headquarters in Peshawar is a critical counterterrorism command center and a frequent target for high-impact assaults.

Officials stressed that the alertness and swift response of FC personnel thwarted a major attack. Security across Peshawar has been tightened, and a detailed investigation is underway.

Resurgence of militant attacks

Pakistan has seen a resurgence of militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan. Officials say the spike followed the Pakistani Taliban’s decision in November 2022 to end a ceasefire and resume attacks against security forces and law enforcement agencies.

In September, six soldiers and five militants were killed when security forces repelled an attack on another FC headquarters in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Militants operating in the region have ramped up attacks in recent weeks after last month's deadly border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan blames the Afghan Taliban for harboring the militants who it says launch cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault, praising the "timely action" of security forces for averting greater loss of life.

"The perpetrators of this incident should be identified as soon as possible and brought to justice," Shehbaz said.

"We will thwart the evil designs of terrorists who attack Pakistan’s integrity."

— With additional input from Reuters and AFP.