Archive · 24 Dec 2025
Five Pakistani police killed in ambush
On December 23, 2023, five Pakistani police officers were killed in an attack in the northwest part of the country.
Their van was first hit by a bomb, and then attackers shot at them.
The police quickly went to the area, collected evidence, and started looking for the attackers.
In a chase, the police fought with the attackers in the mountains and killed eight of them.
The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the province both said the attack was very bad.
No one has said they did the attack yet.
This happened while Pakistan and Afghanistan are having problems with each other, and there's been more violence recently.
Five Pakistani police personnel were killed in an ambush attack in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The attack involved an improvised explosive device followed by gunfire on their van.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack.
During a hot pursuit, eight militants were shot dead in a fierce exchange of fire.
- Who
- Five Pakistani police personnel and unknown attackers
- What
- Ambush attack using explosives and gunfire on a police van
- When
- December 23, 2023
- Where
- Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan
- Why
- Unclear, but amid rising militant violence and deteriorating Pakistan-Afghanistan relations
Government/Police
Militants
Attack Responsibility
Government/Police
Condemn the attack, blame militants, and are actively pursuing the attackers.
Militants
No group has claimed responsibility, but militants were engaged and killed in a subsequent operation.
- Date
- December 23, 2023
- Location
- Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan
- Victims
- Five police personnel (four officers and one driver)
- Attack Method
- Improvised explosive device followed by gunfire
- Responsibility Claimed
- No group has claimed responsibility
- Prime Minister's Response
- Condemned the attack, praised police role in combating militancy
- Chief Minister's Response
- Strongly condemned the attack, described it as 'highly unfortunate' and 'deplorable'
- Ongoing Investigations
- Yes, to identify those responsible and apprehend attackers
- Militants Killed
- Eight militants were shot dead during a hot pursuit
Sources
Five Pakistani police killed in gun-and-bomb attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Five Pakistani police personnel killed in ‘gun and bomb’ attack
VIDEO: Five policemen killed in Pakistan after militant attack on patrolling vehicle
Five Pakistani police personnel killed in bombing, shooting attack
