Armed Personnel launched a rocket attack on Jamia Masjid Fatima-tuz-Zahra and the central Imambargah in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan, causing significant structural damage and sparking condemnation from local residents and officials. Police said the rocket struck the mosque and the adjoining Imambargah compound, shattering the perimeter wall and main gate. The blast also hit the langar khana (community kitchen) inside the Imambargah, leaving it badly damaged, while several shops adjacent to the complex suffered extensive destruction.
Law enforcement agencies immediately cordoned off the area, and a joint search operation by police and security forces was launched to track down the perpetrators. Forensic teams and the bomb disposal unit examined the blast site to confirm the type of ordnance and the possible launch point. Initial assessments suggest the attack may have been carried out from a distance to avoid direct engagement with security forces.
Officials said the strike bore the hallmarks of previous Khawarij attacks in Dera Ismail Khan, a district that has witnessed repeated assaults on religious sites and security installations in recent years. Kulachi tehsil, in particular, has been targeted multiple times due to its strategic location and mixed population, making it vulnerable to both sectarian-motivated violence and broader destabilisation attempts. In past incidents, Khawarij elements have used rockets and improvised explosive devices to attack security posts, mosques, and markets, often to provoke communal unrest.
“This cowardly act by the Khawarij is a direct attack on our unity and peace,” a senior police official said, vowing that those responsible would be hunted down and brought to justice. “Our resolve to protect all places of worship remains unshaken.”
Local elders and civil society representatives strongly condemned the assault, describing it as an attempt to inflame sectarian tensions. They called on the government to enhance security around sensitive sites, particularly during ongoing counterterrorism operations in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
No casualties were reported in the latest attack, but police warned that the damage to the mosque, Imambargah, and surrounding businesses would take time and resources to repair. Security patrols have been intensified in Kulachi to prevent any further incidents.
