DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Three police personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were martyred on Wednesday when militants targeted a police vehicle in the Panyala area of Dera Ismail Khan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to a KP police spokesperson, the attackers had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) on the roadside, which detonated as the police vehicle approached. The assailants then opened fire on the officers.
Security forces cordoned off the area, and a search operation was launched to track down the perpetrators.
This attack comes just a day after four people — including two policemen and North Waziristan Assistant Commissioner Shah Waliullah — were martyred by unidentified gunmen in Bannu district, underscoring a continued surge in militant violence.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and KP Governor Faisal Kundi strongly condemned the DI Khan attack. In his statement, PM Shehbaz expressed deep sorrow over the loss of three police personnel, praying for the elevation of their ranks and extending condolences to their families. He directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for any injured personnel and ordered swift action to identify and bring the attackers to justice.
The prime minister also paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the fight against terrorism, reaffirming the government’s determination to eliminate the threat.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since 2021 following the Afghan Taliban’s return to power. A police report states that during the first eight months of 2025, KP alone recorded more than 600 terror incidents, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 79 police personnel and 138 civilians.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent their soil from being used by terrorists targeting Pakistan. Tensions between the two sides recently escalated, featuring cross-border attacks initiated from Afghanistan and retaliatory strikes by Pakistani forces.
