KOHAT: At least one policeman was martyred and three terrorists were killed in a gun battle between police and militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district on Saturday, officials confirmed.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Kohat, Abbas Majeed Marwat, said the clash took place in the mountains of Darmalak during an operation to trace terrorists. “One policeman was martyred and two others were injured in the line of duty,” he stated. He added that police retaliated effectively, killing three terrorists and injuring several others.
The RPO said the operation was still underway to arrest the injured militants hiding in the rugged terrain. “We will not let the sacrifices of our martyrs go in vain and our war against terrorism will continue,” Marwat vowed.
Details of the Incident
Earlier in the day, Rescue 1122 issued a statement on the incident. It said a police vehicle came under heavy fire near the Darmalak police post in Kohat. As a result, one policeman embraced martyrdom on the spot while two sustained injuries.
The injured officers were rushed to the Kohat District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
Officials confirmed that the clash escalated into what is now being referred to as the “Kohat shootout,” highlighting the renewed wave of militant attacks targeting law enforcement personnel.
Rising Attacks on Police in KP
The Kohat shootout comes amid a surge in terror attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier this month, two Federal Constabulary personnel were martyred and 18 others injured in a terrorist assault in Hangu.
On August 14, militants attacked police checkpoints in Peshawar, Upper Dir, and Lower Dir, leaving five policemen martyred and eight injured.
In July, a joint operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and regional police in Bannu killed three “wanted terrorists.”
Security analysts say the recent surge in violence is tied to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. Since then, police and security forces have been prime targets.
Continued Counterterrorism Drive
Officials stressed that counterterrorism operations will intensify in response to the growing threat. “The state will never bow to militants,” a senior police officer said.
With ongoing operations in KP and Balochistan, authorities remain determined to crush terrorist networks despite mounting challenges.
