LAKKI MARWAT: Four policemen, including two officials, were martyred and two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district on Thursday, police said.
A statement by the KP police said law enforcers had initiated a search and strike operation in the Charpara area at noon, where terrorists had set up a blockade on Wednesday night.
Banda Daud Shah and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) deputy superintendents of police (DSP) led the operation, in which bomb disposal unit (BDU) personnel, a drone team, Rescue 15 personnel and Rapid Response Force personnel also participated, the statement said.
“During the operation, the law enforcers raided the hideout of a terrorist commander, Qaiser Iqbal, where an exchange of fire took place,” the police said, adding that two terrorists were killed in the encounter.
CTD DSP Imranuddin Khan, Latambar Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector (SI) Afzal Awan, Constable Kazim and Head Constable Amjad from the BDU were martyred in the exchange of fire.
The statement said the operation was ongoing.
It added, “The brave martyred personnel of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have set a shining example of dedication to duty, courage, and a commitment to public safety by sacrificing their lives in the fight against terrorism.”
The statement said the sacrifices of the martyred policemen reflected the police force’s “unwavering resolve” to continue making every possible effort to eradicate terrorism and establish lasting peace in the region.
Later, the funeral prayers for the martyred police personnel were offered with full official honours.
According to the KP police, the funeral was attended by KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed, the CTD’s Additional IG Jawad Qamar, Kohat Regional Police Officer (RPO) Shakir Hussain Dawar, Kohat Commissioner Parvez Khan Sabt Khel, CTD SSP Operations Najam-ul-Hasnain, Karak Deputy Commissioner Hamid Iqbal, and Karak DPO Niaz Muhammad; among other high-ranking civil and military and police officers, the families of the martyred personnel, and others.
A police contingent presented a final salute to the martyrs, while high-ranking officers paid tribute to them by laying floral wreaths on their coffins.
“The attendees honoured the supreme sacrifices offered by the martyrs, prayed for the elevation of their ranks, and sought patience for the bereaved families,” the police statement added.
KP IGP Zulfiqar Hameed paid tributes to the bravery, sense of duty, and professional commitment of the martyrs. He stressed the great courage of the KP police personnel in laying down their lives while confronting terrorists.
“The martyrs’ bravery, unwavering dedication to duty, and unparalleled sacrifices for the protection of the public serve as a guiding light for the entire police force,” he added.
In an earlier statement on social media, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the incident and expressed sorrow over the martyrdom of four police personnel.
“The sacrifices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police in the fight against terrorism are unforgettable. The blood of our martyrs will not go to waste; our resolve against terrorism will be further strengthened, and the struggle for the establishment of peace will continue,” he said.
KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time, including attacks on police personnel.
Thursday’s operation comes around 20 days after several terrorist hideouts were destroyed during a joint search and strike operation in Karak.
In September, two terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat, and in August, a police constable was martyred and six officials were injured when an improvised explosive device was used to attack a police patrol van.
According to a recent report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan recorded a sharp 83 per cent increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, reversing a declining trend reported in the first and second quarters as terrorism and counter-terrorism deaths surged nationwide.
Balochistan and KP remained the epicentres of violence, jointly accounting for 98pc of all fatalities during the period. Balochistan recorded 829 deaths, nearly 59pc of the national total, while KP reported 556 fatalities, accounting for more than 39pc.
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