KOHAT: At least seven individuals, including six police cops, were martyred and several others injured when terrorists opened fire on a police van in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district on Tuesday.
According to police, the attack took place on Shakardara Road, a remote area within the district.
Terrorists ambushed a police mobile van, resulting in the immediate martyrdom of three policemen, including Deputy Superintendent Asad Mehmood.
Two civilians passing by the vehicle were also wounded in the initial firing.
The death toll later rose to seven as three injured constables and one civilian succumbed to their wounds at medical facilities.
Three other injured policemen and the remaining civilian continue to receive treatment.
Following the attack, the assailants set the police vehicle ablaze before fleeing the scene, police added.
Interior minister condemns attack
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the terrorist assault, attributing it to terrorist belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij.
The state uses the term Fitna al Khwarij to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In his statement, Naqvi paid rich tribute to DSP Asad Mehmood and the six police personnel who embraced martyrdom, honouring their sacrifice and bravery in the line of duty.
He expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the martyrs, stating that the fallen officers attained the highest rank of martyrdom.
“The martyrs sacrificed their today for the nation’s tomorrow,” Naqvi said. “Their timeless sacrifices will always be remembered.”
The interior minister assured that the government stands with the families of the martyrs during this difficult time and shares in their grief.
He reiterated the government’s resolve to continue the fight against terrorism until it is completely eradicated from the country.
Authorities have launched a search operation in the area to apprehend the perpetrators.
The attack comes a day after another deadly assault in which three Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel were killed and several others wounded in coordinated attacks.
Officials said terrorist from the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) carried out a drone strike targeting an FC fort near Dargah Shaheedan in the Bahadar Khel area.
When the injured were being shifted to hospital, the assailants launched a second attack on the ambulances, torching the vehicles.
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Three FC personnel were martyred, while five others — including a Rescue 1122 official — sustained injuries and were transported to Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Bannu for treatment.
Cross-border terrorism
Pakistan has witnessed a rise in cross-border terror attacks since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban regime to take action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
However, the Taliban regime failed to take any action against terror groups and prevent Afghan soil from being used against Pakistan.
On Sunday, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based precision airstrikes targeting seven terrorist camps along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to recent suicide attacks.
The strikes were conducted in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost provinces and targeted facilities linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan terror group and its affiliates, including Daesh-Khorasan.
Security sources said more than 100 terrorists were killed in the precision strikes.
