# Pakistan Leaders Condemn Deadly Terrorist Attack in Kohat District President and Prime Minister vow to eradicate terrorism following the martyrdom of ten police officers. - **Source:** [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/55a566f8-f1e9-4d40-aaa2-920423966f3d ## Deadly Ambush in Kohat A violent terrorist attack in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the martyrdom of ten police personnel. The officers were ambushed on Wednesday while returning from a joint operation targeting illegal gold mining activities. During the intense firefight, security forces successfully neutralized eighteen militants involved in the deadly assault. ## Presidential Condolences and Resolve President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the loss of the police officers, labeling their sacrifices as a source of national pride. He emphasized that such cowardly acts would not weaken the state's resolve to eliminate terrorism. The President also extended his heartfelt solidarity to the families of the fallen heroes. ## Prime Minister's Official Stance Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently attending the COP31 summit in Turkiye, strongly condemned the attack. He paid tribute to the martyred officers, describing them as national heroes who demonstrated immense courage. The Prime Minister reiterated that the government remains fully committed to maintaining national peace and stability at all costs. ## Operational Details and Casualties The KP Police confirmed the incident occurred in the Darabukach locality near Kohat city. Among those martyred was Deputy Superintendent of Police Haidar Zaman. The police force successfully repelled the attackers, killing eighteen militants during the engagement. This operation highlights the professional capabilities and bravery of the provincial police force under fire. ## Identifying the Militant Threat The government has identified the attackers as members of Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Officials described the collaboration between criminal elements and these militants as a nefarious attempt to destabilize the region. The state vowed that such criminal designs will not be allowed to succeed. ## Regional Security Volatility Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to face significant security challenges, with recent data indicating increased volatility in the region. Renewed terrorist activity has been observed alongside intensified counterterrorism operations. The security environment remains complex, characterized by changing patterns of militant violence that threaten the stability of the province and its surrounding tribal districts. ## Governor's Rule and Oversight The province has been under governor's rule and emergency measures since October 11. The federal government implemented these restrictions following concerns regarding the provincial administration's disengagement from counterterrorism efforts. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has now formally requested a detailed report on the Kohat incident to assess the security failure and response. ## National Security Implications This incident underscores the ongoing struggle against militancy in Pakistan's border regions. The government maintains that no compromise will be made regarding national peace. As the nation stands behind its security forces, the focus remains on neutralizing threats while addressing the nexus between organized criminal activities and militant insurgent groups. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dawn.com/news/2044005/president-pm-condole-martyrdom-of-10-policemen-in-kohat-vow-to-continue-fight-against-terrorism — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._