Lower Dir Terror Attack Foiled as Three Policemen Martyred

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police said on Thursday that three policemen were martyred and several others wounded after law enforcers repelled a major terrorist assault in Lower Dir. The attack took place during a security operation in the district, where police units were carrying out searches in difficult terrain amid heightened militancy concerns.

K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed told a press conference at the Lower Dir District Police Office that the force had blocked what he described as a serious three-sided attack by militants. He said police teams were conducting an extensive search-and-strike operation when the attackers opened fire and attempted to overpower the personnel deployed in the area.

According to the police chief, special teams had been sent to clear three valleys as part of the combing operation. The militants, he said, suffered significant losses during the exchange, and police were relying on eyewitness accounts as well as available visual evidence to assess the scale of damage inflicted on the attackers.

Hameed praised the police teams for maintaining their positions despite facing a larger attacking force. He said the district police officer, a Counter Terrorism Department superintendent of police and other senior personnel helped extract the ambushed party, allowing injured officials to be shifted for medical treatment while the operation continued.

The K-P police chief said most of the injured personnel were recovering and were expected to be discharged from hospital soon. He underlined that attacks causing injuries and martyrdom would not weaken the resolve of the police or other security institutions, adding that those attempting to threaten the state’s writ would be dealt with firmly.

The incident comes as police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa continue to face rising pressure from militant networks operating in mountainous and border-linked districts. Lower Dir has witnessed repeated counterterrorism operations in recent months, with police and CTD units trying to disrupt movement, hideouts and facilitation channels used by armed groups.

Hameed rejected claims that the government’s writ had weakened across large parts of the province. He said work was under way to strengthen police capacity, including budgeted allocations for modern equipment and operational needs, while further security planning would be discussed in a dedicated meeting aimed at restoring lasting peace.

The IGP also addressed the issue of extortion, saying special cells had been established to counter the threat. He added that authorities were seeking support through official channels to trace extortion calls believed to be originating from abroad, a problem that has increasingly affected traders, residents and public representatives in parts of K-P.

The Lower Dir attack is likely to intensify demands for better equipment, intelligence coordination and rapid-response support for police working in high-risk districts. Security officials are expected to continue combing operations in the area while assessing militant casualties and tracking any remaining attackers or facilitators linked to the assault.