Pakistan police ambushed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 11 officers killed

A police team returning from an anti-illegal mining operation in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was ambushed by armed militants on Tuesday, leaving at least 11 officers dead and multiple others injured. The attack marked one of the deadliest incidents targeting law enforcement in the volatile northwestern province in recent months. Among the slain personnel were a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a Sub-Inspector, according to officials. Militant gunfire targeted the convoy as officers were returning to their base following the enforcement campaign against illegal gold extraction operations in the region. The assailants sustained heavy casualties in the subsequent firefight, with security forces reportedly killing 18 militants during the exchange. Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene to evacuate the wounded and retrieve the bodies of the fallen officers. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bordering Afghanistan, has long been a stronghold of various militant factions. The province has experienced repeated attacks on security forces despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations by Pakistan's military and police. Authorities have not released a formal statement confirming militant group responsibility for the assault, though such incidents are typically claimed by Taliban-affiliated or other extremist organizations operating in the region.