2022 Swat bombing
{{Short description|2022 terrorist act}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2022 Swat bombing
| location = Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| target = Civilians
| date = 13 September 2022
| time =
| timezone =
| type = Bombing
| fatalities = 5
| injuries =
| perpetrators = Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (claimed responsibility)
| motive =
| numparts =
| weapons = Explosives
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in Pakistan}}
On 13 September 2022, five people, including the former head of the Peace Committee and two policemen, were killed in a bomb blast in Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In a statement, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has accepted the responsibility for the blast, but the authorities have not yet confirmed this claim.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/991009-blast-in-swat-martyrs-2-policemen-5-civilians|title=Blast in Swat martyrs 2 policemen, 5 civilians|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1709915|title=Swat blast claims five lives, including peace committee member: police|date=September 13, 2022|website=DAWN.COM}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/09/13/five-martyred-in-blast-in-swats-kabal-area-police/|title=Peace committee member among five martyred in Swat IED blast|date=September 13, 2022}}
The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a statement condemned the blast and said that the sacrifices of those who lost their lives will not go in vain.{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2376465/five-including-peace-committee-member-martyred-in-swat-blast|title=5 including peace committee member martyred in Swat blast|date=September 13, 2022|website=The Express Tribune}}
Background
{{Expand section|date=October 2022}}
Swat, located around 240 kilometres (150 miles) from Islamabad, was a significant TTP stronghold until operation rahe rast in 2009, when the Pakistani military drove the armed group's militants out.{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Thousands protest increased violence in Pakistan’s Swat Valley |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/11/thousands-protest-rising-violence-in-pakistans-swat-valley |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}
The new uptick in violence comes after peace negotiations between Pakistan's security services and the TTP failed to produce any results.
With the Taliban's ascension to power in Afghanistan, however, the organization launched peace discussions and ceasefire negotiations with the government, clearing the path for the group to re-establish its influence in the region. {{Cite web |last= |date=2022-10-13 |title=Two Days of Protests Against Swat Valley Militancy Come to an End Following Negotiations |url=https://www.statecraft.co.in/article/two-days-of-protests-against-swat-valley-militancy-come-to-an-end-following-negotiations |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=Statecraft |language=en}}
Attack
A roadside bomb assault, according the police, targeted the car of Idrees Khan, the ex-Village Defence Council (Aman Committee) Chairman of Kabal Tehsil in Swat.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=Peace committee member among five killed in Swat |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/667534-Peace-committee-member-among-five-killed-in-Swat |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=Dunya News |language=en}}
According to authorities, the targeted attack murdered five persons, including a peace committee member, two police officers, and his personal guards.{{Cite news |last=Ahmad |first=Jibran |date=2022-09-13 |title=Anti-Taliban tribal leader among 5 killed in northwest Pakistan bombing |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/anti-taliban-tribal-leader-among-5-killed-northwest-pakistan-bombing-2022-09-13/ |access-date=2023-08-25}}
Khan was a local elder who had previously led a tribal group battling the TTP in Swat.
Aftermath
On October 11, 2022 local of swat valley held a mass demonstration against a militant attack on a school van, resulting in the driver's death and injuries to students.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-11 |title=Huge protests in Swat against militancy |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2381012/huge-protests-in-swat-against-militancy |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} The federal cabinet expressed concern over the incident and condemned the regrouping of militants. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting, expressing sympathy for the victims. Protesters demanded the attackers' arrest, ending their sit-in after negotiations with officials.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2022-10-11 |title=Thousands protest increased violence in Pakistan’s Swat Valley {{!}} Wardoon |url=http://wardoon.net/thousands-protest-increased-violence-in-pakistans-swat-valley/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |language=en-US}} Political figures like Aimal Wali Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad Khan joined the protest. The attack followed Malala Yousafzai's attack anniversary in Swat.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title=Pakistan: Thousands protest, demanding security after school bus attack in Swat |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-thousands-protest-demanding-security-after-school-bus-attack-in-swat-1.91218453 |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}}