Terrorist attack on police checkpoint in Khyber kills two policemen, one civilian

KHYBER: Terrorists launched a gun attack on a police checkpoint, resulting in the deaths of two policemen and a civilian in Khyber district’s Charwazagai area.

District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas informed that the attack occurred at the checkpoint on the Pak-Afghan highway near Landi Kotal Bazar.

Among the deceased was Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Alamzeb. Additionally, one policeman and a civilian were injured in the attack. The terrorists escaped the scene following the assault.

According to the police, the civilians who were killed and injured in the attack were passing the area. The wounded, including the policemen and civilians, were initially taken to Landi Kotal Hospital for emergency treatment but were later transferred to Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar due to their critical condition.

Following the attack, District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas reported strict security throughout the district.

This attack on police personnel comes amid a rise in terror activities across Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces, over the past few months. According to a Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report, the second quarter of 2024 saw 380 fatalities and 220 injuries related to violence, including both civilians and security personnel, from 240 terror attacks and counter-terror operations.

KP and Balochistan, which share borders with Afghanistan, have experienced a significant portion of these incidents, accounting for nearly 92% of the fatalities and 87% of the attacks. Specifically, KP suffered 67% and Balochistan 25% of all fatalities in that period.

In response to the growing threat, the federal government approved a strategic campaign called “Azm-e-Istehkam” as part of the National Action Plan, aiming to address rising terrorism and cross-border infiltration.