Islamabad, Dec 23 (NationPress) A tragic incident unfolded in the Karak district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where five police personnel lost their lives after a police vehicle was ambushed by gunmen, as confirmed by local authorities on Tuesday.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Saud Khan, the armed attackers opened fire on the officers before making their escape. The vehicle was reportedly part of a security detail for a private gas company. Following the assault, the assailants set the vehicle ablaze, as reported by Pakistani daily The Express Tribune.

This occurrence is part of a troubling trend of violence aimed at police forces in Pakistan, particularly in the regions bordering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Previously, on December 8, a police officer sustained injuries in an attack on a police station in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. An officer revealed that snipers specifically targeted the Ahmadzai police station, according to reports from Pakistan's Dawn.

Earlier, on December 3, three police officers, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were killed when a blast targeted their vehicle in the Dera Ismail Khan area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. District police spokesperson Yaqoob Zulqarnain confirmed that an improvised explosive device was responsible for the explosion in the Paniyala area. Those killed were identified as ASI Gul Alam, Constable Rafiq, and the driver of the mobile van, Sakhi Jan, while another constable escaped unharmed.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) released a recent security report indicating that Pakistan has experienced a more than 46 percent increase in overall violence during the third quarter of 2025.

The report shows that Pakistan recorded at least 901 deaths and 599 injuries—encompassing civilians, security personnel, and criminals—due to 329 violent incidents, including terrorist activities and counter-terror operations.

From January to September 2024, the country saw 1,527 fatalities (Q1-Q3), while the 2,414 fatalities during the same timeframe marked a 58 percent rise in violence. Notably, the sources of these fatalities have shifted, with 505 deaths attributed to security operations in 2024, and 1,022 due to terrorist attacks.

The report further noted, "In 2025, security operations resulted in 1,265 deaths—over half of the total fatalities. This shift highlights the intensified response from the state, with security forces inflicting heavier losses on militants."

According to the CRSS report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan accounted for over 96 percent of the nation's violence during this quarter. KP was the most affected region, with nearly 71 percent (638) of total violence-related deaths and over 67 percent (221) of violent incidents. In contrast, Balochistan accounted for over 25 percent of fatalities (230) and incidents (85), while other regions recorded relatively low numbers.