KOHAT – A police checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Kohat district came under a fierce overnight assault, resulting in the martyrdom of one police officer and injuries to a Frontier Constabulary (FC) official. The attack, confirmed by police on Monday, underscores the sustained and brutal threat faced by law enforcement agencies in Pakistan’s northwest.
Kohat District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Zahidullah Khan reported that a “large number of miscreants” launched the attack on the post in Darra Adamkhel from “multiple sides” around 1 am. A subsequent exchange of fire between the security personnel and the unidentified assailants lasted for two-and-a-half hours.
“The unidentified assailants aimed to capture the checkpoint, but their attempt was thwarted,” DPO Khan stated. Following the repulse, a clearance operation was immediately initiated, leading to the recovery of three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) so far.
Escalation and Context of Violence
The attack is the latest in a worrying surge of militant activity across KP, where police personnel have been consistently targeted in areas including Bannu, Peshawar, and Bajaur. The violence intensified after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, vowing to attack security forces.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the incident and paid tribute to the martyred officer, praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. “The sacrifices of the police in the war against terrorism will not go in vain,” he stated, affirming the government’s resolve.
The current assault follows a similar pattern of recent attacks, including an incident just a day prior near the Bannu district where a soldier was martyred and another injured. According to reports, KP remained the most affected province last month, accounting for 45 attacks that tragically killed 54 people and injured 49, highlighting the high cost of the counterterrorism struggle.
