Kurram, February 18, 2025: Five security personnel were martyred, and 15 others sustained injuries when terrorists ambushed security forces in Kurram’s Bagan area during a rescue operation.
According to police, security forces were evacuating stranded vehicles and drivers from an earlier ambush when militants opened fire. The martyred personnel have been identified as Lance Naik Qabil Khan, Lance Naik Abdul Rehman, Lance Naik Yaseen, Sepoy Saqlain, and Sepoy Danish. Among the injured are Havaldar Azeem, Naik Tauseef, Naik Niaz Muhammad, and Lance Naik Haroon.
The attackers also set three security vehicles on fire. A civilian driver lost his life, while several others, including two women and multiple bystanders, were injured.
In response to the attack, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a crackdown on militants in Upper Kurram, Mandori, and other affected regions.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur chaired a high-level meeting attended by the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretary for Home Affairs, and other senior officials. The chief minister strongly condemned the attack on security convoys and incidents of looting.
The meeting concluded with directives to launch indiscriminate operations against militants and relocate residents from high-risk areas to ensure effective action. Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to arrest all individuals named in registered cases without delay.
Additionally, the provincial government urged local elders and peace committees to take a more active role in surrendering militants. Officials warned that strict action will be taken against those failing to prevent such attacks. Political leaders and elected representatives were also urged to support peace efforts and counter misinformation campaigns regarding the situation in Kurram.
A day earlier, a truck driver, Akram Khan, was killed when a humanitarian aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies came under fire in Lower Kurram. The convoy, which had departed from Hangu, was ambushed at multiple locations, including Bagan, Upper Kurram, Mandori, Dad Qamar, and Charkhel, leaving at least 15 people, including truck drivers, injured.
In a separate incident in Kohat’s Shadi Pur area, terrorists carried out a grenade attack on a police mobile, injuring one officer. Security forces responded swiftly, killing one terrorist and arresting several others. Authorities also recovered hand grenades and weapons from the attackers.
