Two cops killed as bomb hits police vehicle in northwest Pakistan
IED blast in Dera Ismail Khan also injures seven, authorities say investigation underway
Kamran Ali
Correspondent Nukta
Kamran Ali, a seasoned journalist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has a decade of experience covering terrorism, human rights, politics, economy, climate change, culture, and sports. With an MS in Media Studies, he has worked across print, radio, TV, and digital media, producing investigative reports and co-hosting shows that highlight critical issues.
A damaged police van following an attack in Dera Ismail Khan on Thursday.
Nukta
Two police officers were killed and seven others injured on Thursday when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck an armored police vehicle in northwestern Pakistan, officials said.
The blast occurred in the Hathala area of Dera Ismail Khan’s Kulachi, a region that has previously seen attacks by militant groups.
Authorities said the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals and a security operation was launched to locate the attackers.
Sohail Afridi, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, condemned the attack, calling it “extremely tragic and condemnable” and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“Such cowardly attacks will not weaken the morale of our security forces,” he said. Afridi added that the sacrifices of the fallen officers “will not go in vain” and pledged that all available resources would be deployed to restore peace and eliminate terrorism.
He reaffirmed the provincial government’s full support for the police and law enforcement agencies.
Seven militants killed in KP operations: ISPR
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military said its forces killed seven militants in three separate counter-terrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, part of an ongoing campaign against foreign-backed terrorist networks.
An intelligence-driven operation in Mohmand District resulted in the deaths of four militants after a firefight, the military said. Two more were killed during a separate operation in Lakki Marwat District, and another militant was neutralized in Tank District.
The military emphasized that “sanitization operations” are ongoing to eliminate any remaining militant elements in the region. These operations form part of Pakistan’s wider counter-terrorism strategy, “Azm-e-Istehkam,” aimed at eradicating foreign-supported terrorism and safeguarding civilian populations.
The northwestern region, bordering Afghanistan, has long faced security challenges from militant groups targeting police and civilians. Authorities have intensified counter-terrorism measures in recent years to prevent cross-border attacks and dismantle insurgent networks.
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