Peshawar( The COW News Digital) At least five police personnel were killed and five others injured in a series of six coordinated terrorist attacks across multiple districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to police sources, the attacks occurred almost simultaneously in Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Peshawar, and Bannu. Heavily armed militants targeted police stations, checkpoints, and mobile patrol units using both light and heavy weapons. Authorities believe the assaults were part of a coordinated effort to destabilize the region and undermine security forces ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
In Upper Dir, militants ambushed a police mobile, killing three officers and injuring three others. The incident occurred in a remote area, forcing reinforcements to navigate difficult terrain under heavy fire to evacuate the wounded.
In Lower Dir’s Lajbok area, insurgents opened fire on a police checkpoint, resulting in the death of one constable. Security officials said the attackers fled toward the mountainous border areas after police returned fire.
In Peshawar’s Hassan Khel area, militants engaged in a prolonged gun battle with police at a local station and two nearby checkpoints. One policeman was killed and another injured in the exchange, which lasted for hours. Witnesses reported hearing continuous bursts of gunfire and seeing reinforcements rushing toward the scene.
In Bannu, armed extremists attacked the Mazang police checkpoint but were repelled after a fierce firefight. District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas Kulachi praised his men for their “bravery and steadfastness,” saying they “fought valiantly and forced the terrorists to retreat.”
Security experts warn that the attacks highlight a worrying resurgence of militant activity in KP, particularly in areas near the Afghan border. The region has seen an uptick in targeted assaults on police and military personnel in recent months, raising concerns over security preparedness.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but officials suspect the involvement of banned militant organizations operating in the region. Authorities have launched search operations in all affected districts, with additional security deployed to sensitive areas.
The latest violence underscores the continuing threat faced by Pakistan’s security forces as they confront insurgency, cross-border militancy, and terrorism in the country’s northwest.
