On December 23, 2025, five Pakistani police officers were killed when their van was attacked by militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district. Police said the van was first hit by improvised explosives. Then attackers opened fire, killing four officers and the driver. The Pakistani Taliban group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility. The TTP has fought Pakistan for nearly 20 years. Security forces later killed eight militants involved in the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the violence, saying, "Police have always played a frontline role in the war against terrorism." This attack came as tensions rise between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries blame each other over increasing militant violence along their border. Islamabad accuses groups using Afghan soil to launch attacks. Kabul denies this, calling Pakistan’s security an internal matter. The Karak district was usually peaceful, making this attack notable in the region.