attacks in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
Senior officer among dead as patrol vehicle targeted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district
IED Attack in Northwest Pakistan: At least six policemen, including a senior officer, were killed and three others injured on Monday after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast struck a police patrol vehicle in northwest Pakistan, officials said.
The attack took place in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the police vehicle was on routine patrol duty when it was targeted by unidentified miscreants.
Police officials confirmed that those killed in the explosion include a Station House Officer (SHO), a Sub-Inspector, three Elite Force personnel, and the vehicle’s driver. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, and security forces launched a search operation for the perpetrators.
Backgrounder: Surge in Militant Attacks and Security Force Casualties
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been one of Pakistan’s most violence-affected provinces, with militant attacks and clashes with security forces remaining frequent:
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2024 saw a sharp rise in militant violence nationwide, with around 905 militant attacks, a 40 % jump from 2023; these incidents caused 1,177 deaths and 1,292 injuries, including heavy losses among security personnel and civilians.
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In KP alone in 2024, militant attacks numbered 308, resulting in 331 fatalities and 244 injuries; security forces bore a significant share of these casualties.
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March 2025 recorded over 100 militant attacks in Pakistan, the highest monthly tally since 2014, causing 228 deaths and more than 250 injuries — with KP among the worst-hit regions.
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Officials have also acknowledged that a majority of terror incidents in 2025 (71 %) occurred in KP, pointing to persistent militancy and deteriorating security conditions.
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Recent reports note that 2025 was the deadliest year for Pakistan in over a decade, with violent incidents claiming more than 667 security personnel lives, underscoring heightened risks for police and troops.
Militant groups — particularly factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — remain active in KP and adjoining tribal districts, leveraging rugged terrain and porous borders to carry out IED blasts, ambushes and suicide attacks. The Pakistani government continues counterterrorism operations, but sporadic attacks on law enforcement persist.