Ten policemen were martyred and 18 militants killed in a gunfight in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after a police operation against illegal gold mining, police said on Wednesday.
The operation was conducted jointly by KP Police and the local administration against individuals involved in illegal gold mining in the Darabo Kach area near Kohat.
According to police, militants belonging to what authorities describe as Fitna al-Khawarij attacked the police team as it was returning after completing the operation. Police alleged that the attackers acted at the instigation of criminal elements linked to the illegal mining network.
The police personnel returned fire, killing 18 militants. However, 10 policemen also lost their lives during the exchange of fire.
Police described the attack as evidence of links between criminal networks and militant groups. They alleged that the two sides were working together to protect illegal activities and advance their objectives.
The police vowed to take action against those involved in illegal mining, militant attacks and providing support to armed groups. They said no individual or network involved in such activities would be spared.
The martyred personnel belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Kohat district. Police paid tribute to their sacrifices, saying their services would always be remembered.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Kohat attack and expressed grief over the martyrdom of the police personnel, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Haidar Zaman.
In an official statement issued late at night, the prime minister extended his condolences to the bereaved families and paid tribute to the officers who lost their lives while defending the country.
He said KP Police had demonstrated exceptional courage, commitment and dedication to duty. Describing the fallen personnel as national heroes, he said their sacrifices for the country’s peace and security would never be forgotten.
The prime minister also highlighted the alleged links between criminal networks and militant groups, saying such elements were attempting to create instability in Pakistan.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism and said there would be no compromise on the country’s peace and stability.
The Kohat incident comes amid a rise in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the country recorded 225 militant attacks in September 2026, compared with 199 in August. This represented a 13 per cent increase and marked the third consecutive month of rising attacks.
The September figure was the highest monthly number of militant attacks recorded in Pakistan in 12 years.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban government to prevent militant organisations from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan maintains that the Afghan authorities have not taken effective action against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Despite several rounds of talks, the two countries have yet to resolve their differences, with the presence and activities of militant groups in Afghanistan remaining a major source of tension.
