A violent ambush in northwestern Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has left at least 28 people dead, including 10 police officers and 18 militants. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday in the Gumbat area of the Kohat district, where security forces were intercepted by gunmen while returning from an operation targeting illegal gold mining. In addition to the fatalities, at least 12 officers sustained injuries, and several police vehicles were set ablaze or went missing during the fierce exchange of fire. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has since claimed responsibility for the assault.

The region has seen a significant surge in militancy, which Pakistani authorities claim is being fueled by groups operating from across the Afghan border—a charge that Kabul consistently denies. Tensions between the two nations remain high following a string of violent incidents and border disputes that have escalated over the past year. As the province grapples with this resurgence in violence, the local government faces intense pressure, having recently been placed under emergency rule to manage the deteriorating security situation and ongoing political unrest.