Is Kohat Safe for Tourists? The 2026 Security Picture

Kohat is not a safe place to plan a leisure trip right now. The district has had several serious attacks on police in 2026, including one on the city's old Police Lines on 18 September that killed at least 23 people, and the UK government advises against all travel to Kohat. Pakistanis still live, work and travel through the city every day, but there is little for a tourist to see that is worth the risk.

This guide is for domestic readers deciding whether to go or only to pass through. It sets out what has happened, what the advice says, and how to think about the Kohat road if your route to somewhere else crosses it.

What has happened in 2026

These are the incidents we could confirm from news reports. Death tolls changed as reports updated, so treat figures as minimums.

• 24 February 2026. A police van carrying detainees was ambushed in the Shakardara area on the edge of Kohat. A DSP and several other police officers were killed; reports differ on the exact toll.
• 18 September 2026. An explosives-laden vehicle was detonated near the mosque in Kohat's old Police Lines, and attackers then stormed the compound. Dawn reported 23 dead, 17 of them police and six civilians, with around 100 injured, and said the group Ittehadul Mujahideen claimed responsibility. Eight attackers were killed in the clearance operation.
• Darra Adam Khel, same district. A police constable was shot dead in the Tor Chappar area during an attempted abduction, an IED hit a police vehicle, security forces have run operations against militants, and on 7 August 2026 one man was killed in a shooting. Our Darra Adam Khel guide covers that town.

The targets in most of these were police and security forces, not tourists. That is of limited comfort: the Police Lines attack killed civilians, and a visitor cannot tell where the next incident will be.

What does official advice say?

The UK government's Pakistan travel advice, last updated on 22 September 2026, advises against all travel to Kohat, along with Peshawar, Hangu, Karak, Bannu and several other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Overseas visitors should read the current advice themselves, because travelling against it can void travel insurance.

We found no blanket Pakistani ban on visiting, but checkpoints and local restrictions can change quickly after an incident. The practical advice from the provincial police is the one that matters on the day.

Is the Kohat road safe to drive through?

Many Pakistani families cross this area without stopping, on the way between Peshawar and the south of the province or between Islamabad and Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan. Kohat is a transport hub on the N-55 and N-80, and the Kohat Tunnel, about 1.9 km long and opened in the early 2000s, carries the N-55 under the Kohat Pass. Our Kohat Tunnel guide covers the tunnel itself.

If you are on that road, the sensible approach is:

1. Travel in daylight and avoid arriving after dark. Most checkpoints and police movements are in the day, and help is harder to reach at night.
2. Check the situation that morning. Local news channels, the district police and drivers coming the other way know more than any article.
3. Do not make unplanned stops in Darra Adam Khel or near police compounds. Fill up and eat before or after the district.
4. Carry your CNIC and expect to be stopped at checkpoints. Be patient and polite; the checks are there for a reason.
5. Tell someone your route and keep your phone charged.

If your journey can go by motorway or another route, take it. Where that is not possible, going through is a different choice from staying.

Is there a reason to visit Kohat?

The honest list is short. The city has a cantonment dating from 1874, a fort and old bazaars, a reputation for guavas, and Tanda Dam, a lake and picnic spot. Our Kohat places guide and Tanda Dam guide describe them, and both come with the same security caveat. None is worth planning a trip around in the current situation.

Who should avoid it, and where to go instead

Families with children, anyone travelling for the first time in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, foreign passport holders and anyone whose insurance depends on following official advice should not go. Those with a genuine reason, such as work, relatives or a posting, will know the area and its local advice better than a guide can.

For a trip in the same province, the broader picture is covered in our guide to whether KP is safe for tourists, and our travel guide lists regions that are open and straightforward. In general Gilgit-Baltistan and the Hazara side of KP have different security conditions from the south of the province, but check current advice for any area before you set out.

Frequently asked questions