At least two police officers were killed and six others wounded in an armed assault on a police checkpost in Karak during the early hours of Thursday, authorities confirmed. The attack occurred in Bahadurkhel, where heavily armed militants opened fire, killing driver Naqeeb and officer Adnan. Four injured personnel were taken to Karak’s District Headquarters Hospital, while two critically wounded officers were shifted to Peshawar for advanced treatment.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the most active militant group in the region, has been responsible for numerous attacks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated the need to eliminate the group, calling them “Fitna al-Khawarij.”
Following the attack, a heavy police contingent arrived at the scene, secured the area, and launched a search operation to track down the assailants. Security has been heightened across the region to prevent further incidents.
Rising militancy and national response
The assault is part of a surge in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Days earlier, a policeman was shot dead in Khyber district during an anti-polio campaign. Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to curb militant activities, a claim Kabul denies.
In response to escalating security threats, PM Shehbaz Sharif, during a National Action Plan (NAP) meeting on January 3, called for a stronger counterterrorism strategy. Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, with over 1,600 people killed in 2023, making it the deadliest year in nearly a decade.
Authorities continue their investigation into the Karak attack as counterterrorism efforts intensify.
