In the early evening of 3 November 2026, militants opened fire on police officers tasked with protecting a polio vaccination team in Mohmand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing two officers and wounding a third.
Xinhua reported that the confrontation occurred while the police were performing security duties for the anti‑polio campaign. The wounded officer was taken to a nearby hospital, and the attackers fled the scene, prompting the area to be cordoned off for investigation. Xinhua added that no group had claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The report underscored growing concerns over the safety of public health operations in the province.
According to a Dawn source that detailed the identities of the fallen officers, the two martyred cops were Constables Zahoor Khan and Arbai Khan, while the injured officer was identified as Sepoy Sabir Khan. The article noted that funeral prayers were held later in the day to honour the martyred soldiers.
ThePrint, citing Pakistani news agency PTI, described the incident as an attack by unidentified militants on police guardians of the polio team. It confirmed the deaths of two police officers and the injury of a third, echoing the figures provided by Xinhua and Dawn. The report also highlighted that the militants were suspected to have used a motorcycle as part of the assault.
Despite multiple reports, the exact identity of the attackers remains unknown. No militant group has claimed responsibility, and authorities have not released details of any possible motive. The incident follows earlier unrest in the area, and security officials are currently investigating the attack to determine the perpetrators and prevent future threats to health campaigns.
Investigations and Unresolved Questions
Police are investigating the incident, but key questions remain unanswered. The identity and background of the assailants, as well as the motive for targeting a public health operation, have not been clarified. Whether the attackers were affiliated with a known militant group or acting independently is still uncertain. The lack of a public claim left law‑enforcement agencies without a clear suspect list, and no definitive evidence has been released about the weapons or tactics used. These uncertainties underscore the ongoing vulnerability of polio vaccination campaigns in Pakistan’s northwestern region, where security conditions frequently pose risks to health workers and their protectors.
