World · Malaysia Bureau
Two Pakistani police officers killed protecting polio vaccination teams
Militants opened fire on a police vehicle escorting polio workers near Pakistan's Afghan border, killing two officers and wounding another. The attack highlights ongoing security threats to public health campaigns in the volatile region.
LSN Malaysia ·
Two police officers were killed and another wounded when gunmen attacked their vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Pakistan's northwestern frontier, officials said. The officers were providing security for polio vaccination workers conducting immunisation drives in the area near the Afghan border when the attack occurred.
The shooting underscores persistent dangers faced by health workers and their security details in Pakistan's insurgency-affected regions. Militant groups have previously targeted polio vaccination campaigns, viewing them with suspicion or opposition to public health initiatives.
In a separate security incident, four police officers were abducted in the same province, though details remained limited. The kidnapping added to concerns about deteriorating security conditions affecting government operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan has long struggled with polio eradication efforts, with militant activity complicating vaccination campaigns in restive areas. The country remains one of only a handful globally where the disease has not been fully eliminated, with sporadic cases continuing to emerge.