As national elections approach, violence is on the rise in the northern province and across Pakistan. In a recent attack in northern Pakistan, at least 10 policemen were killed as violence continues to increase leading up to the national elections.
According to the police report on Monday, a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail district was targeted by attackers using heavy weapons. In addition to the 10 people killed, at least six others were injured in the attack. Police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the attackers. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TPJ) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, and it is believed to be connected to the outlawed Pakistani Taliban (TTP).
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region has seen a spike in violence as Pakistan’s 128 million voters prepare for the upcoming February 8 elections. In January, an independent candidate, Rehan Zaib Khan, and four of his aides were shot dead in the province’s Bajur district. In December, the TPJ claimed responsibility for an attack in Tehsil Daraban, where a suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle outside a police station, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 troops and 32 wounded.
In a separate incident last month, a suicide bomber targeted a mosque in the regional capital of Peshawar, resulting in the deaths of at least 101 people. This ongoing violence has been a cause for concern leading up to the national elections.
The situation is further compounded by security threats in the southwestern region of Balochistan, where the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) – one of several separatist groups – has intensified attacks. Recently, at least 15 people were killed in a BLA attack targeting military and security installations in the city of Mach, located 65km (40 miles) south of Balochistan’s capital, Quetta.
Considering the potential for violence during the February 8 ballot, Balochistan’s Information Minister Jan Achakzai announced on Sunday night that internet service will be temporarily restricted on election day. The minister cited concerns that terrorists may use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and other similar channels for communication and exploiting the situation.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, holds strategic relevance due to its rich copper, zinc, and natural gas reserves. Cities in the region remain constant targets for armed groups. Initially seeking a share of provincial resources, Baloch nationalists later pushed for complete independence.
Abid Hussain in Islamabad contributed to this report.
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