Six people, including two children, were killed when mortar shells struck a market in northwest Pakistan’s Hangu district on Thursday.

The attack hit the Thall area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province bordering Afghanistan. Police said 13 others were wounded, with three in critical condition.

What happened in the Hangu market attack?

Mortar shells hit a crowded market in the Thall area of Hangu district, killing six people and wounding 13 others.

Local police officer Tariq Habib said three of the wounded were in critical condition, and authorities feared the death toll could rise.

No group had claimed responsibility as of Thursday.

Did attackers strike the market a second time?

Yes. Habib said attackers targeted the same location again while rescue teams were still evacuating the wounded. Security forces cordoned off the area after the second strike.

Rescue teams transported the wounded to nearby hospitals, and officials said security had been tightened to prevent further attacks.

Why is Hangu district a frequent target of militant attacks?

Hangu has long experienced sporadic violence from militant groups, including Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which remains active in the region.

The district sits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan and lies adjacent to Pakistan’s formerly self-governed tribal areas, making it a persistent flashpoint for armed activity.

Has militant violence in Pakistan increased since the Afghan Taliban took power?

Analysts and Pakistani government officials say militant attacks in Pakistan have increased since the Afghan Taliban took over Kabul in 2021.

Islamabad has accused the Afghan government of failing to root out militants sheltering on Afghan soil and using it as a base to stage attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban government in Kabul denies the charge.