Pakistan attack kills 28, including 10 police officers

At least 28 people — 10 police officers and 18 militants — were killed in armed incidents in northwestern Pakistan on November 11, AnewZ reported, citing officials.

The incident took place in Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as police officers were returning from an operation against illegal gold mining in the Gumbat area.

Provincial police said militants opened fire on the officers, killing 10 and wounding 12 others. Several hours after the attack, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility.

Separate operation conducted in Kohat district

A senior Kohat district official told AFP that the attackers set fire to two police vehicles. Two other police vehicles and a civilian vehicle were reported missing.

In a separate security operation in the district, 10 TTP members were killed and a large quantity of weapons was found. Another official said it was unclear whether their deaths were included in the reported total of 18 militants.

A spokesperson for the local emergency service had earlier said rescue teams were sent to the scene to assist the wounded after reports that police officers had come under fire.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan

The attack came amid rising militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The TTP has intensified attacks on security forces. Although the group is separate from the Taliban, which governs Afghanistan, it maintains close ties with it.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of allowing TTP fighters to organize attacks from Afghan territory. Kabul denies the allegations.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have grown increasingly tense since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. The situation deteriorated further after deadly border clashes in October, and crossing points between the two countries have been almost entirely closed.

Pakistan cites cross-border militant activity as a cause of worsening security in the country. Afghan officials deny providing safe haven to militant groups.

According to the UN mission in Afghanistan, hundreds of civilians have been killed in clashes between the neighboring countries over the past year.