Police in Pakistan have discovered a large amount of cash buried under the debris of a deadly bombing at a counterterrorism facility in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to a report by a local media outlet on May 2, the police found PKR 25 lakh (about USD 16,500) in a packet that was buried under the rubble of the twin blasts that rocked the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Kabal police station in the Swat Valley on April 24.
The bombing, which targeted a checkpoint outside the CTD office, killed at least 18 people, including four police officials and several civilians, and injured more than 70 others. The Pakistani Taliban, a militant group that has carried out numerous attacks against security forces and civilians in the country, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The discovery of the cash has raised questions about the motive behind the bombing and the source of the money. The police have not disclosed the exact location where the packet was found or provided further details about its contents, but local media reports suggest that it may have been intended as a payment for the attackers or as a reward for the successful execution of the operation.
Ikramullah, the Station House Officer of the CTD police station in Kabal, confirmed the recovery of the cash and said that the investigation was ongoing. “We have found a packet filled with money from the debris of the blast site, and we are investigating it,” he said, adding that the police were also examining the CCTV footage of the area to identify the perpetrators and their accomplices.
The attack on the CTD office was one of the deadliest in Pakistan in recent months, and it underscored the persistent threat posed by militant groups in the country. The Swat Valley, located in the northwestern region of Pakistan, has been a hotbed of militancy for years, and the Pakistani security forces have launched several military operations to restore peace in the area. However, the region remains volatile, and attacks against security forces and civilians continue to occur.
The Pakistani government has vowed to crack down on militant groups operating in the country and has taken several steps to enhance security measures and counter-terrorism capabilities. However, critics argue that the government’s response has been insufficient, and that militant groups continue to operate with impunity in many parts of the country. The discovery of the cash buried under the rubble of the CTD office bombing is likely to fuel further debate about the government’s handling of the security situation and its efforts to combat terrorism in Pakistan.