Two policemen killed in TTP-linked attack in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Synopsis
Two Pakistani police personnel were killed in a TTP-linked ambush near the Warsak Lift Canal in Mohmand district on 3 July — the latest in a string of attacks on law enforcement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. With a suicide bombing on 14 June and a bomb blast on 27 June also targeting police, the pattern points to a coordinated escalation by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Key Takeaways
An additional SHO and an elite force constable were killed in an armed attack near the Warsak Lift Canal, Mohmand district on 3 July 2025 .
Pakistani police attributed the attack to Fitna al Khawarij , the official term for militants of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) .
On 27 June , four police personnel were injured in a bomb blast in Mastung district, Balochistan .
On 14 June , a suicide bomber killed two police personnel and injured six others at a check post near the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border ; more than a dozen civilians were also wounded.
The attacks reflect a sustained TTP-led campaign against law enforcement in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
Two police personnel, including an additional station house officer (SHO), were killed on Friday, 3 July when armed assailants ambushed a police patrol in Mohmand district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local media reports. The attack is the latest in a sustained campaign targeting law enforcement in Pakistan's restive border regions.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to police, the assault occurred near the Warsak Lift Canal in the Machni area, where a mobile patrol unit came under fire from armed assailants. The additional SHO and an elite force constable were killed in the attack. The patrol vehicle's driver sustained injuries and was transferred to Peshawar for treatment after receiving initial care at the site.
Police, district administration officials, and rescue teams were dispatched to the location following reports of the incident and launched a rescue operation.
Who Is Behind the Attack
Pakistani police attributed the assault to Fitna al Khawarij — the term Pakistani authorities use for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP has been responsible for a surge in attacks on security forces across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in recent months.
Pattern of Escalating Violence
The Mohmand attack is part of a broader and intensifying pattern of violence against law enforcement in Pakistan's border provinces. On 27 June, four police personnel were injured when an explosive device planted along the Mian Ghandi Link Road near Pir Wali in Mastung district, Balochistan, detonated as a police vehicle transporting prisoners from Dasht court to Mastung jail passed through. SHO Dasht Akhtar Muhammad confirmed the four injured personnel received medical treatment at the scene.
Earlier, on 14 June, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate of a police check post in the Wahwa area near the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, killing two police personnel and injuring six others. The blast also caused the collapse of roofs and walls of several nearby homes, with more than a dozen local residents wounded. District Police Officer Muhammad Sadiq Baloch confirmed the death toll and said the check post structure was completely destroyed. Investigations into that attack remain ongoing.
Security Outlook
The string of attacks underscores the mounting threat to Pakistan's security forces in its northwestern and southwestern provinces. Analysts note that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have borne the brunt of a TTP resurgence since the group formally ended its ceasefire with the Pakistani state. With no sign of a political resolution, security officials face continued pressure on multiple fronts.
Point of View
And the geography tells a story: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are bearing near-continuous pressure from the TTP. Pakistan's security establishment has struggled to contain the group since the 2022 ceasefire collapse, and the use of suicide bombers, IEDs, and armed ambushes in quick succession suggests an organised operational tempo, not sporadic violence. What is missing from official statements is any credible counter-strategy beyond reactive deployments. Until Islamabad addresses the political and economic conditions fuelling TTP recruitment in border districts, the body count among rank-and-file police officers will keep rising.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Mohmand district police attack on 3 July 2025?
An additional station house officer (SHO) and an elite force constable were killed when armed assailants attacked a police mobile patrol near the Warsak Lift Canal in Mohmand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The patrol vehicle's driver was injured and taken to Peshawar for treatment.
Who carried out the attack on police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
Pakistani police attributed the attack to Fitna al Khawarij, the term Pakistani authorities use for militants of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP has been behind a wave of attacks on security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
What other attacks on Pakistani police have occurred recently?
On 27 June, four police personnel were injured by a bomb blast in Mastung district, Balochistan. On 14 June, a suicide bomber killed two police personnel and injured six others at a check post near the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, also wounding more than a dozen civilians.
Why are attacks on police increasing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan?
Security analysts link the surge to a TTP resurgence following the breakdown of its ceasefire with the Pakistani state. Both provinces border Afghanistan and have historically been flashpoints for militant activity targeting law enforcement and government installations.
What is Fitna al Khawarij?
Fitna al Khawarij is the official term used by Pakistan's government and security forces to refer to militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The label is used in official communications and police statements when attributing attacks to the group.
