Gunmen kill five police officers in northwest Pakistan near Afghan border

Gunmen attacked a police vehicle in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of five police officers, according to local police. This incident occurred in Kohat city, which is near the border with Afghanistan, amid increasing militant violence and heightened tensions with the neighboring country. The assault took place just one day after a drone and gun attack in the nearby city of Karak killed three paramilitary personnel. A spokesperson for the Kohat police stated, “A group of gunmen targeted a police patrol. Among the dead is a senior officer. They also set the vehicle on fire.” No group has taken responsibility for either attack. On Saturday, Pakistan conducted air strikes in Afghanistan, targeting what they claimed were militant locations connected to a series of recent suicide bombings in Pakistan, coinciding with the beginning of Ramadan. The United Nations and Kabul reported that these strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians. Pakistan has accused militant organizations of finding refuge in Afghanistan, where they plan attacks on Pakistan. However, Afghanistan has rejected this claim, stating that militancy is an internal issue for Pakistan. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned Pakistan's actions on Tuesday, calling the air strikes an act of terror against civilians and a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty.