Kohat Terror Attack: DSP Among Six Police Martyred in Pakistan

In a grave act of terrorism, at least seven individuals, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and five other police personnel, were martyred in an attack on a police van in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The tragic incident unfolded on Shakardara Road in the Lachi area, where militants ambushed a police mobile vehicle. The attack specifically targeted a police team led by DSP Asad Mehmood Khan, who was among those martyred. The assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the police van while it was reportedly transporting detainees for investigation. Initial reports from Geo News indicated that three policemen, including DSP Asad Mehmood, were martyred on the spot, with two civilians also injured. The death toll subsequently rose to seven after three injured police personnel and one civilian succumbed to their wounds. Other credible sources, such as Business Recorder and Dunya News, also confirmed the martyrdom of six police officials, including DSP Asad Mahmood. The Express Tribune reported five policemen, including DSP Asad Mahmood Khan, and two detainees were killed, while Anadolu Ajansı stated five policemen and two civilians lost their lives. Radio Pakistan mentioned three police personnel, including DSP Asad Mehmood, were initially martyred, with four others injured. Following the intense gunfire, the terrorists further escalated their brutality by setting the police mobile van ablaze. The attack resulted in serious injuries to several other police officials, including Zahoor Khan, Aqab Hussain, and Mohib Rehman, who were shifted to a hospital in Kohat for urgent medical treatment. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the terrorist attack, attributing it to 'Fitna al-Khawarij militants' and paying tribute to DSP Mehmood and the other fallen officers for their sacrifice. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also took serious notice of the incident, condemning the killings and seeking a report from the Inspector General of Police. He affirmed that the sacrifices of the martyrs would not be in vain and reiterated the provincial government's solidarity with the bereaved families. The attack underscores the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan. The region has seen a troubling resurgence in terrorist activities. This Kohat incident follows another recent attack on Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Karak district, where three Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel were martyred when an ambulance transporting injured personnel came under a terrorist assault after an initial drone strike on an FC fort. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), often referred to by officials as 'Fitna al-Khawarij', is frequently blamed for such sophisticated attacks, which have included the use of drones to target security posts. Islamabad has accused militant groups of operating from within Afghanistan, a charge denied by both the TTP and the Afghan authorities. Security forces launched a search operation in the Kohat area immediately after the attack to apprehend the terrorists. This ongoing wave of violence has placed security forces on high alert across Kohat and its surrounding districts, with intensified checking at all entry and exit points to preempt further acts of terror. The government has reiterated its resolve to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country, emphasizing that the police are the first line of defense against such threats. The continuous sacrifices of law enforcement personnel highlight the severe challenges Pakistan faces in combating extremism and maintaining peace and order in its northwestern regions.

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