Four police officers killed in targeted attacks in northwest Pakistan

At least four police officers were killed in targeted shootings by armed motorcyclists in Pakistan’s Bannu region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, highlighting persistent security challenges in the area.

Saud Khan, District Police Officer (DPO), confirmed that three traffic police officers were shot dead when unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles opened fire near Sarai Naurang in Lakki Marwat district. “They were standing on routine duty along the Bannu–Lakki road when they were attacked,” police said.

According to police, the assailants fled the scene immediately after the shooting, and a search operation is under way.

In a separate incident in Bannu district, a police constable was shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists within the limits of the Mandan police station, police said.

Officials said the three officers killed in Lakki Marwat were identified as traffic in-charge Jalal and constables Aziz and Abdullah, while the slain officer in Bannu was identified as Rashid Khan. The bodies were shifted to hospitals for legal formalities.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the killing of police officers, describing the incidents as “deeply tragic,” and said the sacrifices of the fallen personnel would not be in vain. He stressed that such attacks would not weaken the state’s resolve, vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice and punished to the full extent of the law.

Faisal Karim Kunid, KP Governor , also condemned the attacks, saying police officers responsible for safeguarding lives and property were deliberately targeted, and vowed that those behind the violence would be shown no leniency.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Hafiz Gul Bahadar Group have been active militant groups in the region; however, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.

Militancy in Bannu Region

The Bannu region, encompassing the volatile districts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan, has long been a focal point of militant activity, largely due to its proximity to the Afghan border.

Militants have leveraged the area’s rugged terrain and entrenched local networks to sustain a campaign of frequent attacks.

Figures from the Regional Police Office show that more than 134 militant incidents were recorded in the region in 2025, including nearly 20 drone attacks.

Despite sustained counterterrorism operations and heightened security measures, officials say Bannu remains one of the country’s most serious security flashpoints, with militant groups continuing to pose a significant threat to both security forces and civilians.