Two policemen martyred in separate targeted attacks in Bannu

BANNU: Two police constables were martyred in separate targeted attacks in Bannu district, officials said on Friday, as police described both incidents as acts of terrorism and launched search operations to trace those responsible.

The first attack took place on Friday morning on Bannu-Miranshah Road near Azad Mandi. Police Constable Mishqat Amir was returning home after attending a gathering at the Hamza Tablighi Centre when unidentified armed men opened fire on him, according to initial reports. He sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.

In the second incident, which occurred on Thursday night in Saidgi Baka Khel, Police Constable Muhammad Roshan was shot by unidentified gunmen outside his residence. Police said Roshan, who belonged to the Wazeer sub-division police, was serving at the North Waziristan Temporarily Displaced Persons camp in Baka Khel and had returned home after completing his duty.

According to officials, the attackers fired on Roshan while he was standing outside his house. He was seriously wounded and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, but later succumbed to his injuries.

Police launch investigations

Police authorities said both cases had been classified as targeted killings linked to terrorism. Investigations are under way from multiple angles, while intelligence-based search operations have been launched in the affected areas to arrest the assailants.

Police personnel and local residents condemned the attacks and demanded swift action against those involved. Law enforcement officials also reiterated their resolve to maintain peace in the district and bring the attackers to justice.

Security situation in Bannu

Bannu has witnessed repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and security personnel coming under attack amid a wider rise in militant violence. The district has also seen attacks on police and jirga members, after which police and other security forces carried out targeted operations in different localities aimed at disrupting militant networks.

Last month, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said in an assessment that Pakistan’s security situation had worsened sharply in May 2026 after two consecutive months of improvement, with the deterioration driven mainly by escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

On May 9, a suicide attack in Bannu killed 15 police personnel, after which Pakistan issued a strong demarche to Afghanistan.