Five Policemen Martyred in Karak Gun Attack Amid Rising Terrorism Concerns

At least five police officers were martyred in a gun attack on a police mobile in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Karak district on Tuesday, according to local police authorities. The attack occurred when armed gunmen opened fire on the police vehicle, killing all five personnel inside before fleeing the scene.

District Police Officer (DPO) Saud Khan confirmed the tragic incident, stating that “the number of martyred policemen has reached five.” This attack comes amid a significant rise in terrorist violence in Pakistan’s border provinces of KP and Balochistan, a trend that has intensified since the Afghan Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Cross-border terrorism, originating from Afghanistan, has also led to military clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, most notably in October, when weeks of conflict erupted along the two nations’ shared border.

The attack in Karak follows recent diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Just days earlier, Islamabad issued a formal demarche to the Afghan Taliban regime, expressing grave concerns over the ongoing support and facilitation extended to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for numerous attacks within Pakistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Office summoned Afghanistan’s deputy head of mission on December 19 after four soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack in North Waziristan, KP. Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned the Afghan Taliban’s continued support for terrorist groups, which it claims enables cross-border attacks against Pakistani military and civilian targets.

Pakistan has reiterated its right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens, warning that it will take all necessary measures to respond to terrorism originating from Afghan soil.