PM honours 10 Kohat policemen killed in militant attack

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute on Thursday to 10 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police personnel, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Haidar Zaman, killed in a militant attack in the Darabukach area of Kohat, and said the nation would always remember their sacrifice.

Police said the personnel were returning from a joint operation with the local administration against illegal gold mining when they were attacked, according to Geo News. The officers returned fire and 18 militants were killed in the exchange, Geo News reported. Twelve wounded policemen were taken to hospital.

In a statement, the prime minister condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the dead. He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police had set an example of dedication to duty by making the ultimate sacrifice, and described the dead personnel as heroes of the nation. Minute Mirror reported the statement was issued on Thursday; Geo News described it as a late-night official statement.

Shehbaz commended the police response and said the killing of 18 militants demonstrated the force's professional capability and its commitment in the fight against terrorism. He said the link between criminal elements and the group the police call Fitna al-Khawarij was an attempt to spread unrest in the country, and that such elements would not be allowed to achieve their aims.

The prime minister said there would be no compromise on Pakistan's peace and stability and that the government was determined to eliminate terrorism.

Both outlets reported that police blamed Fitna al-Khawarij for the attack.

Militant violence has risen sharply in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Geo News, citing data compiled by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, reported 225 militant attacks across the country in September against 199 in August, a 13 per cent increase and the third consecutive monthly rise. The September figure was the highest monthly count in 12 years.

Islamabad has repeatedly asked Kabul to prevent its territory from being used for attacks inside Pakistan, and says the Afghan Taliban administration has not acted effectively against the groups responsible. The two sides have held several rounds of talks without resolving the dispute, which remains a major point of contention.