Two policemen were killed in a terrorist attack in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on July 16, 2025, as the region grapples with a surge in militant violence. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Pakistan’s northwestern province.
According to DI Khan Police Spokesperson Yaqoob Khan, Head Constable Ghulam Muhammad and Constable Shahzad, both ex-servicemen, were ambushed by terrorists while heading to buy food. Following the attack, police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel launched an operation, killing one terrorist and recovering weapons and ammunition. Two other assailants, though injured, escaped, prompting a search operation to apprehend them.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, paying tribute to the martyred officers and saluting their sacrifice in the fight against terrorism. He expressed solidarity with the victims’ families, vowing that “their sacrifices will not go in vain” and emphasizing the KP Police’s frontline role in combating terrorism. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the region has seen increased activity by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) since its ceasefire with the government ended in November 2022.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has faced a series of attacks in recent months, including incidents in Peshawar, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Bajaur. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 ranks Pakistan second, with a 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths, totaling 1,081 over the past year. Security forces have intensified counterterrorism efforts, with recent operations neutralizing TTP militants in the region.
