By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: Militants killed at least five police officers and injured eight others in coordinated attacks on checkpoints across Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said Thursday.
The assaults, targeting police posts in multiple districts including Peshawar, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Bannu, and Shangla, reflect a surge in violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan since the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. Recent months have seen repeated attacks on police in KP districts such as Bannu, Peshawar, Karak, Lakki Marwat, and Bajaur, prompting intensified counterterrorism operations.
In Upper Dir, a police mobile unit came under fire late Wednesday, leaving three officers dead and six others wounded, according to a police statement. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, and a search operation was launched to apprehend the attackers.
In Lower Dir, militants struck checkpoints in Maidan, Lajbok, and Shadas. “Two separate terrorist attacks on police checkpoints in the areas of Maidan, Lajbok, and Shadas claimed the life of police constable Sanaullah, while Sultan Zareen was injured,” District Police Officer Abdul Salam Khalid said.
In Peshawar, assailants targeted checkpoints in Matni and Nasir Bagh and the Hassan Khel police station, killing Constable Jahangir Khan and injuring another officer. A KP police press release said the Matni and Nasir Bagh attacks were “successfully thwarted,” with assailants retreating after an exchange of fire. “Elements of Fitna-ul-Khawarij also fired on a police party near Nasir Bagh, which was foiled with timely action,” the statement added, using the state’s term for TTP.
In Bannu, militants used an RPG-7 rocket launcher to attack checkpoints in Miryan and Mazanga. Police repelled the assault with no reported injuries, according to the statement.
“Terrorist attacks on police posts in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bravely foiled,” the press release said, adding that “the terrorists failed in their attacks thanks to the timely action of law enforcement agencies.”
In Shangla, a police post was attacked but swiftly repelled, with the militants fleeing. “The attack was successfully thwarted, and no human loss or injury was reported,” Sub-divisional Police Officer Usman Munir told Dawn.com. A search operation is underway.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attacks in Peshawar, Lower Dir, and Upper Dir, calling them a “cowardly act” and vowing they would not demoralize the police. “The sacrifices made by the KP Police will be remembered in history,” he said, pledging support for the families of the fallen.
Inspector General of Police KP Zulfiqar Hameed praised the officers’ response. “Our brave soldiers have once again proven that they are always ready to defend KP,” he said, adding, “The professionalism, bravery, and strength exhibited by the officers deserve heartfelt appreciation.”
Speaking to the media, Hameed said the “enemy carried out these attacks to cast a shadow over 14 August celebrations,” noting that “we have foiled 80 per cent of the attacks, but sustained damage in two.”
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