2 Policemen Killed, 26 Injured in Twin Attacks on Police in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

July 16, 2026

Islamabad: At least two policemen were killed and 26 people, including 22 police personnel, were injured after armed assailants carried out separate attacks in Bannu and Lower Dir districts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local media reports.

The attacks, which involved an explosives-laden vehicle and prolonged exchanges of gunfire, come amid a surge in assaults targeting law enforcement personnel in Pakistan’s border regions.

Explosives-Laden Vehicle Used in Bannu Attack

According to reports, six police personnel and four civilians were injured when armed assailants targeted the Miryab police station in Bannu on Wednesday using a vehicle packed with explosives.

Officials said the attackers attempted to ram the explosives-laden vehicle into the police station, triggering a powerful blast before opening fire on security personnel. The gunfight reportedly continued for several hours.

District Police Officer Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Furqan Bilal said security forces later launched search and clearance operations in the area.

Authorities also said the attackers destroyed a previously damaged bridge leading to the police station in an apparent attempt to delay the arrival of reinforcements and rescue teams.

The banned outfit Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that the vehicle carried around 2.5 tonnes of explosives.

Two Policemen Killed in Lower Dir Gun Battle

In a separate incident at Haidaray Top in Lower Dir, two police personnel were killed and 16 others were injured during an exchange of fire with armed assailants.

Officials said security forces were conducting a search operation following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants when they came under attack. The gun battle continued for several hours before subsiding after nightfall.

Search operations are continuing in the area to trace those responsible.

Spike in Attacks on Security Forces

The latest incidents come against the backdrop of increasing attacks on police and security personnel, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

On July 6, nine police personnel, including two Station House Officers (SHOs), were killed after militants attacked a police post in Balochistan’s Ziarat district.

Earlier, on July 2, two police personnel, including an Additional SHO, were killed when armed assailants attacked a police patrol in Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistani authorities have blamed several recent attacks on militants linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the country refers to as Fitna al Khawarij.