Pakistan: At Least 17 Killed in Explosions at Police Station

Facts

• At least 17 people were killed and more than 50 injured after explosions rocked a counter-terrorism office in northwest Pakistan on Monday, local officials have said.¹
• The blasts — which took place in Swat valley, a region historically home to many Islamic militants until they were forced out by a government operation in 2009 — was initially blamed on terrorism, but officials later clarified there was no evidence of an attack.¹
• A spokesman for provincial police said that ammunition caught fire, "most probably due to an electric short-circuit." He added: "No evidence of an attack from outside has been established so far."¹
• Swat valley police chief, Shafiullah Gandapur, said the dead include nine policemen, five detainees, and three civilians. He joined provincial authorities in ruling out a terror attack.²
• Nonetheless, the outlawed Tehrik-e Taliban (TTP) — also known as the Pakistani Taliban — have made a gradual comeback in tribal districts of the region, as peace talks with government officials have largely stalled. In January, more than 80 people were killed at a mosque inside the Peshawar police headquarters.³

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²US News & World Report, and ³RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by GEO. While the nature of the blast is still being investigated, there is no evidence at this stage to suggest it was a terror attack. Early searches suggest that a short-circuit in an ammunition depot is to blame for this tragic loss of life. Speculation should be kept to a minimum for now.
• Narrative B, as provided by South Asian Voices. While this particular incident may not have resulted from the actions of local insurgents, there has been a dramatic uptick in attacks by terrorist groups since late last year. Pakistan's government needs to take assertive action to ensure that terrorism is not able to flourish in this region as it once did.