Shangla: A terrorist attack in Chakesar, Shangla District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, targeted a police checkpoint with a grenade. The attack led to the martyrdom of two policemen and injuries to three others, according to Khyber News.
Police identified the fallen officers as Assistant Sub-Inspector Hassan Khan and Constable Nisar Khan. The injured include Muharrar Arshad Khan, Constable Arshad Khan, and Constable Rifat. The wounded officers were transported to a hospital in Battagram for treatment, officials said.
Terrorist attacks have become frequent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, often targeting law enforcement and security personnel. In a separate incident, militants gunned down a police constable near Parmuli Police Station in Swabi. The slain officer, Ishtiaq Ahmad, was attacked while returning from his poultry farm late Monday night. His brother, Zubir Mohammad, confirmed Ishtiaq’s assignment with the Peshawar Electric Supply Company subdivision.
Armed assailants also attacked polio workers in two separate incidents in KP on Monday, the first day of a nationwide anti-polio campaign. In Karak’s Shakar Khel area, a policeman protecting a vaccination team was martyred. Another polio worker was injured during the assault, police reported.
In Bannu’s Kala Khel Masti Khan area, gunmen killed a polio worker as he was heading to work. These tragic incidents highlight the growing threats faced by frontline workers in KP.
Reports from the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) show a 90% rise in violence during the third quarter of 2024 (July-September). There were 328 recorded incidents of terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations, leaving 722 people dead and 615 injured. Most fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan, making up 97% of the total.
The first three quarters of 2024 have already surpassed total fatalities recorded in 2023. At least 1,534 deaths were reported in 2024, compared to 1,523 in 2023. The report noted that terrorist groups continue to regroup, and many attacks remain unclaimed, likely for strategic reasons.
Violence in KP and Balochistan remains at its peak, posing serious challenges for law enforcement and the fight against terrorism.
