The first quarter of 2023 has been a deadly period for police personnel in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as 125 officers were killed and 212 others injured in militant attacks, according to police data.
The figures also reveal 25 cases of militant attacks registered during this period, highlighting the ongoing security challenges law enforcement agencies face in the region.
During the initial three months of 2023, police officers in a province of Pakistan experienced a rise in militant attacks, resulting in 125 fatalities and 212 injuries.
Police data shows that 25 such attacks were registered during this period. The highest number of incidents occurred in January when 116 personnel were martyred, and 189 were injured in 15 attacks.
Although the number of attacks decreased in February, the fatalities continued, with two police personnel losing their lives and five others being injured. In March, seven cases were reported, resulting in seven police officers losing their lives and 18 being wounded. These numbers are a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officials face in the region.
Also Read: Pak Army Major Fraud: Imposter Arrested for Drug Trafficking in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Despite a sharp increase in militant attacks on police personnel in Pakistan’s province in January, the situation has improved in recent months thanks to the deployment of better weaponry and intelligence-based operations, according to a senior police official.
Although 125 personnel were killed and 212 injured in the first quarter of 2023, the number of attacks fell in February and March due to these measures. Most casualties occurred on January 30, when a suicide bomber targeted a mosque at Peshawar’s police headquarters, killing 84 people, including officers. The Taliban had called off a ceasefire agreement with the government in June 2022 and urged its militants to stage attacks across the country.