Group Linked to Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Mosque Attack in Pakistan, tell me about this news in (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/19/world/asia/pakistan-mosque-attack-bahadur.html)

On September 18, 2026, a coordinated militant attack targeted a mosque located inside the Old Police Lines complex in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, northwestern Pakistan.

Key details of the incident include:

• The Assault: The attack occurred during Friday prayers when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate and entrance of the police compound’s mosque. Following the initial blast, several armed militants entered the complex and opened fire, attempting to storm key sections including the Counter Terrorism Department and Special Branch offices, which led to an intense gun battle with security personnel.

• Casualties: The explosion collapsed walls of the mosque and caused severe structural damage. The attack left at least 21 to 31 people deada significant portion of whom were police officers alongside civilian worshippersand injured dozens more, with casualty estimates ranging between 75 and over 100 people.

• Claim of Responsibility: Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant network under the banner of Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen. Hafiz Gul Bahadur is a prominent militant commander based historically in North Waziristan, with well-documented operational ties to Al Qaeda and regional insurgent factions.

• Broader Context: The bombing reflects an intensifying wave of militant violence directed at Pakistani security forces and law enforcement infrastructure, particularly across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan regions near the Afghan border.