Kohat, Pakistan: Pakistan witnessed a deadly attack on a police team in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, leaving 11 police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), dead and 12 others injured, according to reports.

The attack took place in the Darboka Jalandhar Banda area, located between Kohat and Karak districts, when armed assailants ambushed a police team travelling to conduct a raid against illegal gold mining activities.

According to The Express Tribune, the attackers opened indiscriminate fire on the police personnel from a concealed position along the route. Kohat police spokesperson Mohammad Nauman Zeb confirmed that 11 personnel lost their lives while 12 others sustained injuries in the assault.

Following the firing, the assailants reportedly set five police vehicles on fire before fleeing the scene. The identities and exact number of attackers have not yet been officially established.

Security Concerns Rise in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The incident has intensified concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where police personnel and security forces have increasingly been targeted in armed attacks in recent months.

Repeated assaults against law enforcement agencies have raised serious questions about the security situation in the region.

Terror Attacks in Pakistan on the Rise

According to data cited from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), the number of reported attacks in Pakistan has increased significantly over recent years.

The figures mentioned in the report indicate that Pakistan recorded 658 attacks in 2022, while the number reportedly rose to 2,425 in 2025—nearly four times the earlier figure.

The latest ambush once again highlights the growing security challenges confronting Pakistan, particularly in its northwestern regions.