PESHAWAR: Over 580 policemen have lost their lives in acts of terrorism, encounters, and other incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2023 as the province has witnessed a surge in attacks on the cops.
Several cops have lost their lives in consecutive major attacks on police in Bannu and Lakki Marwat, the two most troubled towns in KP, in recent years. In Bannu, an entire police post was razed to the ground in Fatehkhel when an explosive-laden vehicle went off, claiming over 16 lives. The cops of the entire district were angry over frequent attacks on the force.
A day later, a bomb went off in Serai Naurang in adjacent Lakki Marwat on Tuesday, claiming the lives of two traffic policemen and seven others, while 30 others were wounded. Police have been alerted across KP following these attacks and due to threats in the coming days. The law and order have deteriorated in KP in recent weeks.
As per the official statistics, over 580 policemen lost their lives in ambushes, targeted killings, IED blasts, and other attacks since 2023.As many as 159 policemen were martyred in 2025. The number is slightly higher compared to the corresponding year, as 153 cops were martyred in 2024. As many as 186 policemen were martyred in 2023.
The southern districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have seen a surge in attacks on the police during the current year.As many as 84 policemen embraced martyrdom in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the current year. Many were kidnapped, and families of others were attacked, causing anger among the entire force, especially in Bannu and DIK divisions.
Attacks on police and security forces have been reported frequently since mid-2021. These attacks have further intensified in the last few months in most of the districts of the two divisions, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan, claiming several lives and causing injuries.
In 2025, the force faced 536 attacks, registering a 48 percent increase compared to 2024. Besides, 324 attacks were thwarted during that year, which was an increase of 83 percent compared to 2024.
During the first three months of 2026, the police force was attacked 194 times, mostly in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions. Police officials said over 108 of these attacks were foiled.
Despite attacks, the force in most of the places is still short of protected buildings, bulletproof vehicles and jackets, jammers, armoured personnel carriers, latest weapons and technology to protect its cops.
An official said a number of bulletproof vehicles have been provided to the districts, while many police stations and posts have been strengthened in the last few months. Also, technology, including drones, anti-drone guns, thermal imaging scopes, and other gadgets, has been provided to the force to counter attacks and aggressively go after terrorists.
The attacks on police in KP had started recording a surge since mid-2021, but the number of casualties went high in 2023. Over 86 policemen were martyred in one incident when a suicide bomber detonated explosives around his vest at the central mosque of the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines, the headquarters of the Peshawar Police, in January 2023.
More than 200 policemen were wounded in the incident, considered to be the biggest attack on police in Pakistan.The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has lost over 2000 policemen from the rank of constable to additional inspector general after 2006. The total number of fallen heroes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was 369 from 1970 to 2006.
