Policeman killed in attack targeting polio vaccination team in northwest Pakistan

“A policeman was killed aft unidentified gunmen opened occurrence connected a polio vaccination squad helium was guarding successful northwest Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,” constabulary said connected Tuesday (February 3, 2026).

The incidental occurred connected Monday (February 2, 2026) successful Mirali tehsil of North Waziristan territory bordering Afghanistan. The assailants managed to fly from the country aft the attack. Police contingent rushed to the tract and cordoned disconnected the full area. A hunt cognition was launched successful the area.

Polio workers successful Pakistan and their information escorts person faced repeated attacks implicit the past decade, peculiarly successful parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the erstwhile tribal districts. Despite these threats, the authorities continued nationwide polio drives nether strict information arrangements.

Pakistan is 1 of the past 2 countries successful the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Despite planetary efforts to eradicate the virus, challenges specified arsenic information issues, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation person slowed progress.