Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has paid tribute to Kohat police after 10 personnel, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Haidar Zaman, were martyred in a terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a late-night statement on Thursday, the prime minister strongly condemned the attack in the Darabukach area of Kohat and expressed condolences to the families of the martyred personnel.
According to police, militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij attacked a police team returning from a joint operation with the local administration against illegal gold mining. Police alleged that criminal elements had instigated the attack.
The police team responded to the assault, killing 18 militants in an exchange of fire. However, 10 police officers and personnel also lost their lives. Twelve injured policemen were shifted to hospital for treatment, according to reports.
Paying tribute to the fallen personnel, Shehbaz Sharif said they had set an outstanding example of courage, professionalism and dedication to duty. He described them as national heroes whose sacrifices for the country’s peace and security would always be remembered.
The prime minister also prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the deceased and offered prayers for strength and patience for their bereaved families.
Commending the police response, he said the killing of 18 militants reflected the professional capabilities and determination of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the fight against terrorism.
Shehbaz Sharif said the alleged links between criminal networks and militant groups posed a serious threat to Pakistan’s peace and stability. He vowed that such elements would not be allowed to succeed in their attempts to spread unrest.
He said KP Police had made tremendous sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and that the entire nation held its officers and personnel in high regard.
The prime minister also praised other law enforcement agencies for carrying out their duties with courage and determination. He said the nation stood firmly with security forces in the fight against terrorism.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Shehbaz Sharif said there would be no compromise on Pakistan’s peace and stability and vowed to eliminate terrorism from the country.
The attack comes amid a renewed rise in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militants carried out 225 attacks across the country in September 2026, compared with 199 in August. The 13 per cent increase marked the third consecutive month of rising militant activity.
September also recorded the highest monthly number of militant attacks in Pakistan in 12 years, according to the think tank’s data.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan maintains that the Afghan Taliban government has failed to take effective action against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Despite several rounds of talks, Islamabad and Kabul have yet to resolve their differences. The presence of militant groups on Afghan soil remains a major point of tension between the two countries.
