5 Pakistani cops killed in coordinated militant attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 24, 2026
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At least five police officers were killed in two coordinated militant attacks in northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday. The first attack occurred in Kohat district when gunmen ambushed a police vehicle, killing one officer. Shortly after, as reinforcements arrived at the scene, four more officers were slain in a second ambush. These attacks highlight an escalation in militant violence in the region, raising concerns about security challenges.
The timing of the assaults suggests a deliberate effort to target responding personnel, indicating a high level of planning and coordination by the perpetrators. While no group has formally claimed responsibility, suspicion points toward the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a faction linked but distinct from Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. The TTP is frequently accused by Islamabad of operating from bases in Afghanistan, though both the group and Afghan authorities deny these allegations.
Recent violence has surged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with another deadly attack occurring just a day prior near Karak. On Monday, attackers used an explosives-laden drone to strike a paramilitary post, injuring several personnel. As the wounded were being transported, two ambulances carrying them were ambushed, resulting in three more deaths. The driver of one ambulance, despite sustaining injuries, managed to evacuate others to safety.
This week’s attacks follow a major military operation on Sunday along the Afghan border, where Pakistan’s
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/24/2026