Police van IED attack in Karak leaves driver martyred, six injured

An improvised explosive device (IED) attack targeting a police mobile van in the mountainous Ghol Banda area of Banda Daud Shah

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: An improvised explosive device (IED) attack targeting a police mobile van in the mountainous Ghol Banda area of Banda Daud Shah in Karak district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), left a police driver martyred and six other personnel injured on Monday.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran, the police vehicle was travelling towards Sar Dargah when an explosive device planted along the roadside detonated as the van passed through the area.

The deceased police driver was identified as Wajid, a resident of the Gadi Khel area of Karak. The six personnel injured in the explosion were identified as Syed Shah, Noor Shali, Imran, Shamim, Gohar and Yasin.

The injured officers were shifted for medical treatment following the attack. Police and other security agencies immediately reached the site and sealed off the area to prevent unauthorised access. Officials also began collecting evidence and examining the scene to determine how the explosive device was planted and detonated.

DPO Imran said law enforcement agencies had launched efforts to identify and locate those responsible for the attack. He added that investigations were under way and that authorities were working to apprehend the perpetrators.

K-P Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan condemned the attack, describing it as a “regrettable, cowardly and condemnable act”. In a statement posted on X, he said terrorist groups would not be able to achieve their objectives through such attacks.

Jan paid tribute to the police personnel who had lost their lives while performing their duties and said the sacrifices made by K-P police officers in the fight against terrorism would not be forgotten.

The provincial minister also expressed sympathy with the family of the martyred police driver and said the provincial government shared their grief during the difficult period. He prayed for the deceased officer and wished the injured personnel a speedy recovery.

The attack occurred as Pakistan has witnessed an increase in militant activity, particularly in K-P and Balochistan. The growing number of attacks and security operations in the two provinces has raised concerns over the deteriorating security environment.

K-P has remained a major focus of counterterrorism operations in recent weeks. Security forces have conducted operations in several districts, including Bannu, North Waziristan, Orakzai and Khyber. Officials said 12 militants were killed during multiple operations carried out over several days this month. Explosives, IED detonators, weapons, ammunition and motorcycles were also recovered and destroyed during the operations.

Earlier, on August 6, security forces reported killing 10 militants in two separate encounters in K-P. In the first incident, militants attempted to attack security checkpoints in the Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan. Security forces responded to the assault, killing eight militants during the exchange.

In a separate operation in Dir district, two additional militants were killed by security forces.

Amid the continuing security challenges, law enforcement and security agencies have intensified operations across K-P and Balochistan. Authorities say the operations are aimed at disrupting militant networks and preventing attacks that could threaten peace and stability.

The state uses the term “Fitna al-Hindustan” for militants belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army and other groups operating in Balochistan, while “Fitna al-Khawarij” is the official term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The latest attack in Karak highlights the continued risks faced by police personnel operating in remote and mountainous areas of K-P.