Unidentified gunmen shot and killed five policemen in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Kohat on Tuesday, police officials said, in the latest militant attack targeting security forces near the Afghan border. The assailants also burnt the patrol vehicle in the assault, a regional police spokesman told Reuters.
The attack occurred as the policemen were on patrol in Kohat, a city adjacent to the volatile tribal districts that have long been a focus of Islamist militancy. A senior officer was among those killed, according to the police statement, underscoring the risks faced by law enforcement on routes frequently used by insurgent groups.
Security forces in northwest Pakistan have stepped up operations in recent months amid a resurgence of violence following the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and militants, most notably the Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has claimed or been linked to several deadly attacks on police and military targets. Analysts say militant groups continue to exploit rugged terrain and porous border areas to stage ambushes on security personnel and convoys.
The latest assault comes amid a broader pattern of militant violence in the region, including a suicide vehicle bombing and armed assault in Bajaur earlier this month that killed at least 11 Pakistani security personnel and a civilian child, followed by clashes that left multiple fighters dead.
Authorities have repeatedly blamed cross‑border militant safe havens and logistical support emanating from across the Afghan border, a claim denied by Kabul. Pakistan’s military and federal government have continued counter‑terrorism operations along the frontier to disrupt insurgent networks, but sporadic attacks persist, posing ongoing challenges to security in the northwest.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack, and police said investigations were underway to identify and locate the gunmen.