Policeman among two killed in attack on polio vaccination team in northwest Pakistan

At least two people, including a police officer, were killed on Tuesday after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in northwestern Pakistan, officials said.

District Police Officer Waqas Rafiq told Nukta that the incident occurred in the Tangi area of Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur district. The officer, identified as Sajad, was assigned to provide security for the vaccination campaign. A civilian who attempted to intervene was also shot and killed, Rafiq said.

“The polio team appeared to be the primary target,” Rafiq added, noting that a second assailant had opened fire to provide cover for the attackers.

Security forces have been deployed to the area, and search operations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible, he said. Additional protective measures have been implemented across the district as part of the ongoing anti-polio drive.

Security concerns in Bajaur

Bajaur, which borders Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for militancy and cross-border insurgent activity. Its rugged terrain and porous border have allowed militant groups to target security personnel and officials. Despite repeated military operations, sporadic attacks continue to disrupt daily life in the region.

The commissioner’s office in Peshawar said the anti-polio campaign has been temporarily suspended for one day following consultations with the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar. The pause coincides with heightened security measures and events marking the 11th anniversary of the Army Public School (APS) attack. Officials said the campaign would resume as scheduled the following day.

According to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the final anti-polio vaccination drive of the year is underway across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, targeting more than seven million children.

Authorities have urged residents to cooperate with health workers and remain vigilant amid security concerns.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack, calling it “not only an assault on humanity but also a direct attack on a national duty.”

He praised the polio workers and the security personnel protecting them, saying, “They are fulfilling a national responsibility and the country will always remember their sacrifices.”

Afridi reaffirmed that the anti-polio campaign would continue without interruption to safeguard the country’s children.