At least 14 people have been killed in a suicide bombing that targeted protesters at an anti-militant rally in northwestern Pakistan, officials say.<\/p>\n
The attack happened in the Swat Valley town of Kabal, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where demonstrators had gathered near a police station, chanting anti-militant slogans and demanding peace.<\/p>\n
The victims included five police officers and eight civilians, according to a police official who said the 14th person to die was believed to be the suicide bomber.<\/p>\n
At least 18 other people were injured in the attack as police launched an operation to arrest anyone who may have helped the bomber.<\/p>\n
Shortly before the atrocity, speakers at the rally accused authorities of failing to act decisively against militants, according to witnesses.<\/p>\n
Militancy in the country’s border areas has increased \u2060sharply in recent months, targeting mainly the military and police.<\/p>\n
In response, residents have repeatedly organised anti-Taliban rallies to protest against the militants’ presence.<\/p>\n
The Swat Valley was once a stronghold of Islamic militants who imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law.<\/p>\n
Then in 2007, Pakistan<\/a>‘s military carried out a major operation that drove them out and restored government control.<\/p>\n However, militants have resurfaced in the valley, fuelling fears the Pakistani Taliban are seeking to regain a foothold in the region.<\/p>\n In a statement, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group claimed responsibility for the attack.<\/p>\n The TTP is separate from, but allied with, Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.<\/p>\n Many of its leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021.<\/p>\n Read more from Sky News: Pakistan’s government has blamed the Afghan Taliban for \u2060the escalation in militancy, accusing it of providing \u200bsupport to the militants.<\/p>\n
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