Six Policemen Killed in Blast in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Rising Terror Attacks

Islamabad, March 2026 : At least six police personnel were killed and another injured when a powerful explosion struck a police vehicle in Pakistan’s northwestern Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local media reports.

The blast occurred in the Bettani tribal area when an explosive device detonated near a police mobile vehicle on patrol. A spokesperson for the local police confirmed that six officers lost their lives in the explosion while one policeman sustained injuries.

Following the incident, additional police personnel were rushed to the scene to secure the area and begin rescue and investigation operations. Authorities cordoned off the site as part of an immediate response while security forces launched a search operation in nearby areas to track down those responsible for the attack.

The incident highlights the continuing security challenges facing Pakistan, particularly in regions bordering Afghanistan. Since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021, Pakistan has reported a noticeable rise in cross-border militant activity, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both of which share porous borders with Afghanistan.

In response to the escalating security situation, the government in Pakistan launched a major counterterrorism campaign known as Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. Pakistani authorities claim that the operation has targeted militant networks operating along the border areas and inside Afghan territory.

According to reports cited by local media, Pakistan has said that at least 641 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed in strikes conducted during the operation. Prior to launching the campaign, Pakistan had also carried out airstrikes in several Afghan provinces, including Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost.

However, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes that struck residential areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, resulting in civilian casualties. These accusations have further strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The deadly blast in Lakki Marwat comes amid a broader surge in militant violence across Pakistan. Earlier this month, a senior officer from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) was killed in a targeted attack in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.

Police officials said that Inspector Metha Khan, who had recently joined the CTD, was attacked by unidentified gunmen while passing through the Killi Ismail area of the city on March 8. According to investigators, the attackers were riding motorcycles and opened fire on the officer before fleeing the scene.

Authorities confirmed that the officer died on the spot as a result of the gunshot wounds. Law enforcement personnel quickly sealed off the area and initiated a search operation to apprehend the suspects.

Meanwhile, a new report released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has highlighted a sharp rise in violence across the country.

The report revealed that combat-related deaths in Pakistan increased by 30 per cent in February, largely driven by a surge in suicide attacks and militant violence. According to the data, a total of 470 deaths and 333 injuries were recorded during the month.

The victims included 96 civilians, 80 members of the security forces and 294 militants. Among the injured were 259 civilians, 50 security personnel and 24 militants.

The figures represent a significant increase compared to January, with deaths among security personnel rising by 74 per cent. Civilian deaths increased by 32 per cent, while militant casualties rose by 21 per cent.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained one of the worst-affected regions. In February alone, 53 security personnel and six civilians were killed in the province, while dozens more were injured.

Three suicide bombing incidents were reported in the province during the same period, claiming 17 lives — including 14 members of the security forces — and injuring 20 others.

Violence also spread to other parts of the country. A suicide bombing in Islamabad killed 34 people and injured 165 others, while another attack in Bhakkar district of Punjab left two police personnel dead and four others injured.

According to PICSS data, the first two months of 2026 have already witnessed 831 combat-related deaths across Pakistan. The casualties include 536 militants, 169 civilians and 126 members of the security forces, underscoring the worsening security landscape in the country.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)