Suicide Blast at Wedding in Pakistan Kills 5, Injures 10

Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, January 24, 2026 – A devastating suicide attack struck a wedding celebration in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, leaving at least five dead and ten others injured. The explosion occurred while guests were dancing, turning a moment of joy into tragedy.

The attack took place at the residence of Noor Alam Mahsud, head of the local Peace Committee, in Dera Ismail Khan district. Police officials confirmed that the blast caused the ceiling of the room to collapse, trapping guests under the rubble and complicating rescue efforts.

Police Superintendent Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada reported that five bodies and ten injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals. Emergency services responded promptly, deploying seven ambulances, a fire truck, and a disaster response vehicle to the scene.

Peace Committee Leader Among the Dead

Initial reports indicate that Waheedullah Mahsud, another prominent Peace Committee leader, was also killed in the blast. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, while police investigations into the attack are underway. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the incident and has requested a detailed report from the provincial police. He affirmed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Hotbed of Militancy

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a sharp rise in extremist violence in recent years. Bordering Afghanistan, the province has been a stronghold for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the TTP has intensified its attacks in the region. In 2025 alone, Pakistani security forces faced significant challenges combating TTP and allied militant groups, resulting in hundreds of casualties.

Earlier this month, armed assailants killed four members of a local Peace Committee in Bannu district. In November 2025, a separate attack on a Peace Committee office in the same district left seven dead, including a former militant who had surrendered to authorities, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups in the province.

The recent wedding attack underscores the continuing instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the persistent threat posed by militant networks operating along Pakistan’s western frontier.