Pakistan leaders condemn ambush near Kohat that left ten police officers dead

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed grief over the martyrdom of 10 police personnel in a terrorist attack on a police team in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district. Eighteen terrorists were killed and 10 police personnel were martyred on Wednesday when a police team came under attack while returning from an operation against elements involved in illegal gold mining. In his message, the president said the sacrifices of the KP police in the fight against terrorism were a source of pride for the entire nation. The president extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred personnel and expressed solidarity with them. He said cowardly terrorist attacks could not weaken the nation’s resolve, which remained unwavering in its commitment to eliminating terrorism from the country. President Zardari said police personnel and other law enforcement agencies were making sacrifices to protect the lives and property of the people. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack, saying the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the peace, stability and security of the country would always be remembered. Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated the government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism from the country. The prime minister, who is currently in Turkiye on a three-day official visit to attend the COP31 summit, strongly condemned the attack and paid tribute to the martyred KP police personnel. Calling them national heroes, he said the brave officers and personnel of the provincial police force had set an example of devotion to duty and courage by laying down their lives for the peace and security of the country. The premier also extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families. He said the killing of 18 terrorists during the operation demonstrated the professional capabilities, courage and unwavering resolve of the KP Police in the fight against terrorism. He also described the “nexus between criminal elements and Fitna al-Khawarij” as a nefarious attempt to spread unrest in the country, vowing that such elements would not be allowed to succeed in their designs under any circumstances. Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. PM Shehbaz also reiterated that no compromise would be made on Pakistan’s peace and stability. The prime minister further said the courage and steadfastness shown by police personnel and other law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism were commendable, adding that the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the country’s security forces. In a statement released yesterday, the KP Police said police personnel were conducting a joint operation with the local civil administration in the Darabukach locality near Kohat city. “When the police party was returning after completing the operation, Fitna-al-Khawarij attacked the police party at the behest of criminal elements,” the statement read. “Police personnel fought the attackers with great bravery and courage, as a result of which 18 khawarij were sent to hell,” it noted, adding that 10 personnel of KP Police “embraced martyrdom while fighting bravely”. KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has sought a detailed report on the incident. According to images shared by KP Police on their X account, the martyred cops included Deputy Superintendent of Police Haidar Zaman. KP has been facing security challenges for long. According to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the country’s security environment continued to show considerable volatility from Oct 30 to Nov 5, with renewed terrorist activity in parts of KP and the former tribal districts, alongside intensified counterterrorism operations and changing patterns of militant violence. It is worth mentioning that KP has been under governor’s rule and emergency since Oct 11, when the federal government took the measures, citing the PTI-led KP government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the counterterrorism fight.

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Ten police officers were killed and 18 militants were neutralized during an armed clash in northwestern Pakistan, officials reported, prompting national leaders to pledge an unyielding stance against regional militancy.

The confrontation took place on Wednesday in the Darabukach area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, close to Kohat city. According to provincial police officials, a detachment was heading back from a joint mission with civil administrators targeting illicit gold mining activities when militants ambushed them. Police engaged the attackers in a sustained shootout. Among the fallen officers was Deputy Superintendent of Police Haidar Zaman.

Pakistan's top leadership condemned the assault. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the officers, praising the provincial police for their sacrifices in protecting citizens and maintaining order. He emphasized that acts of violence would not diminish the state's determination to eradicate extremist groups.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking while on an official visit to Turkey for the COP31 summit, honored the slain personnel as national heroes and commended their defense during the engagement. He asserted that authorities would confront collusion between organized criminals and armed extremist factions, specifically pointing to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, which authorities officially refer to as Fitna al-Khawarij. Sharif stated that national peace and stability would remain uncompromised.

Provincial Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has requested a comprehensive inquiry into the ambush. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced persistent security strain, with the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies noting recent spikes in militant encounters and intensified counterterrorism activities throughout the province and its surrounding tribal districts. The region has also remained under a federal state of emergency and governor's rule since mid-October amid political and operational disputes over local counterterrorism efforts.

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