In brief
During a polio vaccination drive in Mohmand district, two police officers were killed and a third injured after an exchange of fire with militants. The attack, which occurred while the officers were safeguarding the anti‑polio team, underscores security challenges for public health operations in northwestern Pakistan. No group has claimed responsibility yet.
In the remote Mohmand district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, two police officers were shot dead by militants on Tuesday, amid a polio vaccination drive. The incident occurred while the officers were standing guard for the anti‑polio team, according to a police report released by authorities.
The victims were constables Zahoor Khan and Arbai Khan, while the third police officer, Sepoy Sabir Khan, sustained injuries during the attack and was transferred to a nearby hospital. The injured officer’s condition is being monitored.
The attack was carried out by a group of militants who reportedly were riding a motorcycle and opened fire on the police detail. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the exchange of shots, and investigators are tracing their possible trail.
Police have cordoned off the area surrounding the incident site to facilitate an investigation. Security forces are also reviewing the execution of the vaccination campaign to prevent a repeat of such attacks.
After the incident, local authorities announced that the police will maintain heightened security for the remainder of the vaccination campaign. The militants’ motives have not been identified, and no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan’s polio vaccination campaigns are conducted regularly, as the country remains one of the two nations – along with Afghanistan – where polio continues to be endemic. The nationwide immunization efforts aim to protect children from the disease, which is preventable by vaccine.
Security concerns for public health workers have grown in recent weeks. Law enforcement officials cited the need to reinforce the protection of medical teams working in volatile regions of northwestern Pakistan.
In a statement, the local police department declined to comment on the attackers’ identity, but noted that the event had “raised concerns over security for public health operations in the province.” The department also urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity.
While investigations progress, the region’s polio vaccination teams have resumed their scheduled work with additional security measures in place, and officials are hopeful that the program will continue as planned.
The event is part of a broader challenge the country faces, as militants occasionally target health initiatives. Police and security forces say that protective strength will be bolstered to safeguard both health workers and civilians during upcoming vaccination drives.
