Terrorist Attack
SHANGLA: A terrorist grenade attack on a police check-post in Chakesar, District Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulted in the martyrdom of two policemen and injuries to three others, on Tuesday.
The slain officers have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Hassan Khan and Constable Nisar Khan. The injured policemen, including Muharrar Arshad Khan, Constable Arshad Khan, and Constable Rifat, were immediately transferred to a hospital in Battagram for treatment.
This attack is part of a broader wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, regions that have experienced a significant rise in violence targeting law enforcement and security forces.
In a separate incident in Swabi, a police constable named Ishtiaq Ahmad was martyred in a gun attack by militants. Ishtiaq was returning from his poultry farm late Monday night when the attackers opened fire.
His brother, Zubir Mohammad, confirmed the incident, stating that Ishtiaq had been previously stationed in Peshawar for the Peshawar Electric Supply Company.
Another wave of violence occurred during the first day of Pakistan’s nationwide anti-polio campaign, which saw two polio workers gunned down.
In Karak, a policeman providing security for a polio vaccination team was martyred when gunmen opened fire on the team in the Shakar Khel area of Banda Daud Shah tehsil.
One other polio worker was also injured in the attack. In a separate incident, another polio worker was shot and killed in Bannu’s Kala Khel Masti Khan area while on his way to work.
These attacks highlight the increasing insecurity in the region, with KP and Balochistan suffering the majority of violent incidents. According to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter of 2024 saw a dramatic rise in fatalities from terrorist violence, with a 90% increase in violence compared to previous periods.
Between July and September 2024, 722 people, including civilians, security personnel, and criminals, were killed, and 615 others were injured in 328 incidents.
The report revealed that nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan, marking the highest death toll in a decade from terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations.
In total, fatalities in the first three quarters of 2024 surpassed the annual total for 2023, with at least 1,534 fatalities recorded. Terrorist groups are reportedly reorganizing and strengthening their ranks, although many of the attacks remain unclaimed, possibly for tactical reasons.
These developments highlight the ongoing security challenges faced by Pakistan, particularly in KP and Balochistan, where militant activity continues to threaten stability.
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