Karak IED Attack on Police Van Leaves One Constable Dead

Karak – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – A deadly Karak IED attack police van incident has left one police constable dead and six other officials wounded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district. The blast took place on Monday, shaking the local community and raising fresh concerns about security in the region.

According to Shaukat Khan, spokesperson for the Karak District Police Officer, the explosion happened while a joint team from the Counter-Terrorism Department and local police was carrying out a search and strike operation.

The team was patrolling the Ghol Dam area when tragedy struck. Militants had reportedly hidden an improvised explosive device along the roadside.

As the police van passed through the area, the hidden bomb went off without warning. The powerful blast tore through the vehicle, leaving it badly damaged.

Sadly, one constable lost his life instantly at the scene. Six other officials suffered injuries of varying severity during the attack.

Soon after the explosion, DPO Imran Khan rushed to the site with additional security forces. His team worked quickly to pull the injured personnel and the fallen officer’s body from the wreckage.

All the wounded, along with the deceased constable, were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital for urgent medical care. DPO Imran later visited the hospital in person to check on the injured officers and offer his support.

This attack is not an isolated case. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorism-related violence over the past year.

A recent study, the Annual Security Report 2025 by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, revealed alarming numbers. Deaths linked to terrorism in the province jumped from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.

That’s an increase of 711 lives lost in just one year. This single province now accounts for more than 82 percent of the entire country’s rise in terrorism-related deaths.

Experts describe this as a nearly 44 percent year-on-year surge in violence, a worrying trend for residents and security forces alike.

Karak district, in particular, has seen repeated attacks in recent months. Back in June, at least eight police officers were injured when militants ambushed a police team near Khurram Police Station.

Even earlier, in February, three officers from the Federal Constabulary were martyred in another deadly attack within the same district.

These repeated incidents highlight the growing danger faced by law enforcement officers serving in this part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Despite the risks, police and counter-terrorism teams continue their operations to root out militant threats in the area.

Local authorities have not yet announced whether any suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with Monday’s bombing. Investigations are reportedly underway to trace those responsible for planting the explosive device.

As security forces mourn the loss of another officer, questions remain about how to better protect patrol teams operating in high-risk zones like Karak. For now, the community stands with the families of the victims during this difficult time.