Ten policemen have been martyred and 18 militants killed following an ambush in Kohat during an operation against illegal gold mining. The incident has exposed growing concerns about criminal networks, militant violence and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
An Operation Against Illegal Mining Turns Deadly
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed another major security tragedy on November 11 when a police team returning from an operation against illegal gold mining in Darabukach, Kohat, came under attack. The operation, conducted jointly by police and the local administration, resulted in an hours-long exchange of fire.
According to KP Police, 10 policemen were martyred, and 18 militants were killed. Those killed included senior police officers, among them DSP Haider Zaman and Assistant Sub-Inspector Mukhtiar. Several other personnel were injured and shifted to hospitals.
Police identified the attackers as members of Fitna al-Khawarij, the state’s designation for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP also claimed responsibility for the attack, according to international media reports.
The police alleged that militant and criminal networks were working together to protect illegal mining activities. However, the full extent of these links remains to be established through investigation.
Why Illegal Gold Mining Became a Security Concern
The attack came after Kohat’s deputy commissioner imposed a 60-day restriction on parking excavators near designated placer gold mining areas. Authorities alleged that heavy machinery was being used to facilitate unauthorised extraction.
Illegal mining can generate substantial profits while depriving the state of revenue and creating disputes over valuable resources. Police operations against such networks can therefore encounter resistance from individuals and groups benefiting financially.
The allegation of cooperation between criminal groups and militants raises an additional concern: illegal businesses can potentially provide funding, protection or other support to violent organisations. Authorities must establish these connections through financial investigations and evidence rather than relying solely on public statements.
Pakistan’s Wider Terrorism Challenge
The Kohat attack comes amid continued militant violence in KP and Balochistan. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, Pakistan recorded 143 militant attacks in October 2026, down 37 per cent from September’s 226. Despite this decline, the October attacks still caused 111 deaths.
The resurgence of TTP violence has become a major security concern since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. Islamabad accuses Kabul of allowing militants to operate from Afghan territory, a charge the Afghan authorities deny.
What Pakistan Needs to Do
The Kohat tragedy demonstrates that counterterrorism efforts must also target the financial networks supporting illegal activities. Authorities need stronger intelligence operations, tighter monitoring of mining equipment, transparent mining regulation and action against those financing militant groups.
Police personnel also require adequate equipment, secure operational planning and reliable emergency support. Pakistan must dismantle the criminal networks behind illegal mining while strengthening its response to terrorism. Without tackling both problems, security operations will remain costly for the state and its people.
References
https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-militants-attack-kohat-afghanistan-police-ttp-260c8876601c767a4111b17fa9dd255c
https://radio.gov.pk/11-11-2026/kohat-operation-18-khawarij-killed-10-policemen-martyred
