10 Policemen Killed, 18 Militants Reportedly Dead in TTP Attack on Police Convoy in Pakistan’s Kohat

Peshawar (Terror Monitor) — At least 10 police personnel, including a senior police officer, have been killed and several others injured in an armed attack on a police team in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while police claim that 18 attackers were killed in the subsequent exchange of fire.

The attack took place on Wednesday in the remote Darbukach area of Gumbat tehsil in Kohat district, as police personnel were returning from an operation targeting illegal gold mining allegedly carried out through a nexus between militants and criminal groups.

According to a statement issued by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the police contingent was attacked by armed militants allegedly belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who were acting at the instigation of criminal elements involved in illegal gold extraction.

Police said their personnel returned fire, killing 18 attackers during the ensuing gunbattle, while 10 police officers lost their lives.

Among those killed was Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Haider Zaman. Another officer, identified as Sub-Inspector Mukhtiar, was also among the fatalities, according to local media reports.

The attackers reportedly opened fire from surrounding hills and set five police vehicles on fire during the assault, according to a report by Pakistan's Express Tribune.

Conflicting early casualty reports

Earlier, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Jawad Afridi said that 12 injured police personnel had been transported to hospital following the attack.

He said injured officers had informed rescue officials that several bodies were still lying at the scene. However, rescue teams were facing difficulties reaching the location because of its remote and mountainous terrain.

Dr Tahir Ali Shah, medical superintendent of Kohat's District Headquarters Hospital, said 10 injured personnel and 10 bodies had been brought to the hospital, according to local reports.

Two of the injured were referred to Peshawar for further medical treatment because of their critical condition, while the remaining eight were receiving treatment in Kohat.

The hospital administration also initiated post-mortem examinations of the deceased.

Initial casualty figures varied as rescue teams struggled to reach the scene. Reuters initially reported that 11 police personnel were feared killed, citing a rescue organisation's spokesperson.

The Associated Press (AP), in its subsequent report, confirmed that at least 10 police officers had been killed, citing local police officials.

TTP claims responsibility

The Terror Monitor reported that the Pakistani Taliban subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as the TTP, is a banned militant organisation that has intensified its attacks against Pakistani security forces and police in recent years.

The group is separate from, but closely allied with, the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of allowing TTP militants to operate from Afghan territory, an allegation denied by Kabul.

Illegal gold mining and militant-criminal nexus

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the operation in Darbukach was launched against illegal gold mining allegedly facilitated by cooperation between armed militants and criminal groups.

The area is situated along the Indus River, where placer gold extraction has become a source of disputes among local groups.

Authorities have previously conducted operations against unauthorised gold mining activities in the region.

The Kohat district administration had also imposed a 60-day restriction on parking excavators in designated gold-mining areas, including Blocks C and D, and adjoining locations, citing concerns that the machinery was being used for unauthorised extraction of gold.

The administration also prohibited the sale and supply of petroleum products in open containers for use in illegal mining operations.

Remote mountainous location complicates rescue efforts

Darbukach is a remote mountainous locality in Gumbat tehsil, approximately 25 kilometres from Kohat city, according to local accounts.

The area lies between Khushal Garh and Shakardara, along a stretch of the Indus River where local groups have reportedly been involved in gold extraction activities.

Residents say disputes over access to gold-bearing riverbanks have previously triggered clashes between local groups, while police have conducted several raids against illegal mining operations.

The lack of proper road infrastructure makes access to the locality difficult, with journeys from Kohat city reportedly taking between two and two-and-a-half hours.

Following Wednesday's attack, additional police contingents and security forces were dispatched to the area. An exchange of fire continued for some time, while authorities launched further efforts to secure the location and reach the remaining personnel.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the attack and sought a detailed report from the relevant authorities.

The incident highlights the continuing security challenges facing police and law enforcement agencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the TTP and other armed groups have repeatedly targeted security personnel.