Three police officers killed in Karak ambush
Militants attack patrol near Afghan border, sparking major manhunt
At least three police officers were killed and several others wounded in a militant ambush in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near Pakistan’s frontier with Afghanistan, officials said. The officers—Inspector Irfanullah, Constable Saleem Khan and Constable Rafiq Ullah—were on a routine patrol when their vehicle came under heavy gunfire and grenade attack near the mountainous Takht-e-Nusrati area; attackers then fled into nearby hills. Authorities reported the patrol car was riddled with bullets and said automatic weapons and grenades were used.
Funeral prayers with full police honours were held at the District Police Lines in Karak, where coffins draped in the national flag were carried by fellow officers. Thousands attended, including police, government officials and local residents; provincial leaders laid wreaths and expressed condolences to bereaved families. The provincial police chief and senior officials condemned the killings as an assault on security forces and vowed swift action. A manhunt was launched, and authorities said elite commandos and paramilitary units conducted operations that led to several arrests and recovery of weapons believed linked to the attack.
Officials and intelligence sources attributed the ambush to Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been blamed for a series of recent assaults in northwestern border areas; the government reiterated that militants exploit the porous frontier with Afghanistan to mount attacks, a claim denied by Afghan authorities. The provincial administration announced compensation and support measures for victims’ families, including financial aid and employment offers for next of kin. The prime minister expressed condolences and vowed to continue national efforts against terrorism.
Security analysts warned the incident underscores a worrying resurgence of militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal districts, highlighting persistent challenges for law enforcement operating in remote, mountainous terrain. Local officials said patrols and search parties would be reinforced as authorities seek to restore stability in a region that continues to face repeated attacks on security personnel.
