Militant attack in Pakistan kills senior police officer, six others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

2026-02-24 - 11:42

A militant attack on a police vehicle in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed at least seven people Tuesday, including a senior officer, authorities reported. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed in a statement that Deputy Superintendent of Police Asad Mehmood and four police personnel lost their lives when militants struck in the Kohat area. Civilian Casualties and Regional Context Kohat District Police Officer Shehbaz Elahi reported that two civilians were also killed and three others injured in the attack. The incident follows a week of escalating violence in the region, with at least 16 security personnel including a senior army officer killed in clashes and security operations against militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan province. Military officials reported that 53 militants were killed during these operations and retaliatory attacks. Rising Terrorism Trend Pakistan has experienced a significant increase in terrorist violence in recent years, with bombings and armed assaults increasingly targeting security personnel, law enforcement officers, and government installations, particularly in the northwestern and southwestern provinces bordering Afghanistan. The latest attack underscores the persistent threat faced by security forces as Islamabad continues counterterrorism operations aimed at neutralizing militant networks operating in the volatile border regions.