Two killed, including police constable, in attack on polio team in KP’s Bajaur

BAJAUR: At least two people, including a police constable, were killed on Tuesday when unidentified assailants attacked a polio vaccination team in the Salarzai tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, police officials said. The incident occurred on the second day of the nationwide polio immunisation campaign, which began a day earlier and is scheduled to continue until December 21.

According to Bajaur police spokesperson Israr Khan, the attack took place in the Thangi area of Salarzai when armed men opened fire on a security contingent assigned to protect polio workers. As a result, Constable Sajad Ahmed sustained critical injuries and later succumbed to them. A civilian passerby was also killed after being shot by the attackers when he reportedly attempted to chase them.

“The assailants managed to flee the scene after the attack,” Khan said, adding that a search operation was launched in the area to apprehend those responsible. He confirmed that no members of the polio vaccination team were injured in the incident.

Local residents corroborated the police account, while authorities sealed off the area as part of security measures. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi condemned the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. In a statement issued by his office, he said polio workers and the security personnel deployed for their protection were performing a national duty. He described the attack as “an assault on humanity and national responsibility” and vowed that the polio eradication campaign would continue without disruption.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, expressing grief over the death of the police constable. According to state broadcaster PTV, the prime minister said those responsible would be brought to justice and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing the anti-polio drive until the virus is eradicated from the country.

Attacks on polio workers and their security escorts remain a major challenge in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Militants have frequently targeted vaccination teams, citing opposition to immunisation campaigns. In 2024 alone, at least 20 people were killed and 53 injured in attacks linked to polio drives in KP.

Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. According to official figures, 30 polio cases have been reported in the country this year, with 19 recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Despite repeated nationwide campaigns, security threats, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation continue to hamper eradication efforts.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis, primarily affecting children under the age of five. Health authorities stress that repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with routine immunisation, remain the only effective means of protection.