Three FC personnel martyred in attack on ambulance in KP’s Karak district

A brutal attack in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on February 23, 2026, resulted in the deaths of three Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel and injuries to rescue workers. The incident unfolded in two stages, beginning with a drone strike targeting an FC fort near Dargah Shaheedan in Bahadar Khel, Karak district.

Attack on Fort and Ambulances

According to Karak District Police Officer Saud Khan, the initial attack on the fort was carried out by terrorists identified as belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to as “Fitna al-Khawarij”. Following the initial assault and as injured personnel were being transported to a hospital, a second attack was launched directly on the ambulances.

The second attack proved devastating. Three FC personnel were martyred, and the ambulances were set ablaze with wounded personnel inside. Rescue 1122 staff were also targeted during the incident, resulting in injuries that required their treatment at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Bannu.

Did You Know? The attackers specifically targeted ambulances carrying the injured, a move widely condemned as a particularly inhumane act.

Official Condemnation and Response

The attacks drew swift condemnation from top Pakistani officials. President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the martyred personnel and stated that such “cowardly acts” would not diminish national resolve. K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi emphasized that establishing law and order was a shared national challenge and ordered immediate medical assistance for the injured.

K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi described the incident as a “sad and cowardly act against humanity,” while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari labelled it “extremely cowardly and inhumane,” adding that those responsible “reject Islamic teachings.”

Expert Insight: Targeting emergency medical personnel and vehicles represents a significant escalation in tactics, demonstrating a disregard for basic humanitarian principles and potentially signaling a broader strategy to disrupt stability and instill fear.

Recent Increase in Terrorist Activity

This attack occurs amidst a recent surge in terrorist activity in K-P. Just days prior, two Pakistani security personnel, including Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah, were martyred during a counter-terror operation in Bannu district. Following that, two terrorists were killed in a separate incident in Bannu while attempting to free a detained commander.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, 80 per cent of all terrorist incidents in the country have occurred in K-P, a trend he attributed to a “politically permissive environment” and a developing “nexus between political and terrorist elements” within the province.

Frequently Asked Questions

What group claimed responsibility for the attack?

The Karak District Police Officer, Saud Khan, stated that the terrorists involved belonged to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to as “Fitna al-Khawarij”.

Where did the attack take place?

The initial attack occurred near the Dargah Shaheedan area in Bahadar Khel, within the jurisdiction of Khurram Muhammad Zai Police Station, Karak district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

What was the immediate response to the attack?

Security forces launched a search operation in the area and had cleared the vicinity following the attacks. Injured rescue officials were taken to Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Bannu for medical treatment.

What impact might this escalating violence have on the region’s stability and the ongoing efforts to maintain peace?