October 24, 2025 | Hangu
A series of twin blasts shook Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district on Friday, claiming the lives of three policemen, including Superintendent of Police (SP) Operations Asad Zubair, officials confirmed.
According to police, the first explosion took place near the Ghulmina police checkpoint, where a planted explosive device went off, damaging a nearby room but causing no casualties.
As security officials moved to inspect the site, a second, more powerful explosion occurred about two kilometres away in Darband, directly targeting the police vehicle of SP Operations. The blast left SP Asad Zubair and two other policemen martyred, while at least three others sustained injuries.
District Police Officer (DPO) Khanzeb Mohmand confirmed the casualties, adding that the wounded were shifted to DHQ Hospital Hangu for medical treatment. A bomb disposal squad and police commandos have since launched a search operation in the surrounding area.
Condemnation from Interior Minister
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack, expressing grief over the loss of SP Asad Zubair and his colleagues.
“The sacrifices of our brave officers will not go in vain. SP Zubair and his team have earned the highest honour of martyrdom in the line of duty,”
said Naqvi, while extending condolences to the bereaved families.
Rising Wave of Terrorism
The tragic attack comes amid a renewed surge in terrorist incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — regions sharing a porous border with Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, cross-border militant activity has significantly increased, with Pakistan witnessing a sharp escalation in attacks targeting security forces.
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militant violence across Pakistan rose by 74% in August compared to July, resulting in 194 fatalities nationwide. The think tank reported that 96% of these incidents occurred in KP and Balochistan, underscoring the deteriorating security situation along the border.
