Gunmen Kill Five Policemen in Northwest Pakistan near Afghan Border

Unidentified gunmen ambushed a police patrol in the Kohat district in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, killing five policemen, including a senior officer, police confirmed. The attackers also set the police vehicle on fire after the attack, according to a police spokesman. The assault occurred in a volatile region close to tribal districts along the Afghan border, a longstanding hotspot for militant activity.

The motive and specific group responsible for the ambush were not immediately identified. Authorities are investigating and searching for the assailants amid ongoing security operations in the area.

This incident comes amid a broader surge in militant violence in northwest Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where banned extremist groups such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allied factions have stepped up attacks on security forces. In recent weeks, militants have employed increasingly sophisticated tactics, including drone assaults on security posts and coordinated ambushes on police and paramilitary units.

Earlier this week a militant-armed quadcopter drone attack hit a paramilitary post in the Karak area, injuring several officers, and later militants ambushed ambulances transporting the wounded, killing three security personnel. Authorities suspect the involvement of TTP-linked fighters, although no group has claimed responsibility.

The northwest region has also been the scene of other deadly confrontations, including clashes between Pakistani security forces and militants that have killed soldiers and insurgents alike. These events are part of an ongoing insurgency that has persisted for nearly two decades, fueled by complex local grievances and cross-border dynamics with Afghanistan, where Pakistani authorities accuse insurgent groups of operating from safe havens.

In response to the uptick in violence, the Pakistani military and police have continued targeted operations against militant hideouts and cells. This includes intelligence-based raids and increased patrols in border-adjacent areas. Officials have reiterated that dismantling these networks remains a priority, but the persistence of attacks underlines the ongoing challenge of stabilizing the region.

The government has also defended its strategy of offensive operations as necessary to counter insurgent threats and protect civilians, even as attacks continue to test the resilience and readiness of security forces in Pakistan’s northwest.