DERA ISMAIL KHAN — A wave of deadly violence swept through Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, killing six police officers and a civilian in an improvised explosive device attack and underscoring a sharp escalation in militant activity across the region, according to The Express Tribune.
Officials said a police armored personnel carrier traveling from Gomal to Tank district was struck by a roadside bomb, killing an additional station house officer and five other policemen on the spot. A civilian passerby was also killed. The blast tore through the vehicle with devastating force, leaving little chance of survival.
The slain officers were identified as Station House Officer Ishaq Marwat, Constable Sher Aslam, driver Abdul Majeed, and constables Arshad Ali, Hazrat Ali, and Ehsan Ullah. Authorities said the identity of the civilian victim has yet to be confirmed.
Hours later, a second IED targeted a police vehicle near the Darah Tang bridge in Lakki Marwat district, injuring three officers, including Station House Officer Razaq Khan. Police said the explosive had been planted along the roadside, and the attack narrowly missed the district police officer, who was expected to pass through the same route during a routine patrol.
The area had already been under strain. A day earlier, unidentified gunmen abducted a lawyer from the same location, deepening fears of deteriorating security.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed condemned what he described as “cowardly terrorist attacks,” vowing that the violence would not weaken the resolve of the police force. “The morale of the police is high,” he said, adding that investigations had been intensified and those responsible would be brought to justice. He pledged full support for the families of the fallen officers.
Violence continued elsewhere in the province. In another incident, unidentified assailants shot dead a police officer, identified only as Ismat, along with his cousin in the Kachi Kathgarh area, according to local sources.
Overnight, militants launched an attack on the Nala Kasho police post in Bannu district, opening fire from multiple directions shortly after midnight. Police returned fire and successfully repelled the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department reported killing six “highly wanted” militants in two intelligence-based operations conducted over the past 24 hours in Peshawar and the Khyber district. The militants were said to be affiliated with Fitna al Khawarij. In both operations, several suspects managed to escape by fleeing into nearby residential areas.
Security officials say militant violence has surged since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Official figures indicate that more than 4,000 people including security personnel and civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks in Pakistan since then. Authorities believe the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has been emboldened by developments across the border, allegations the Afghan Taliban deny.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths of the police officers, calling their killing a national tragedy. He ordered an immediate investigation and vowed that the perpetrators would be pursued to their “logical end.” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and provincial leaders echoed the condemnation, paying tribute to the fallen officers and reaffirming the government’s commitment to defeating terrorism.
As attacks multiply, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s police remain on the front lines of a conflict that shows little sign of easing.
