3 January 2025

Pakistan: Polio Perils – Analysis

Tushar Ranjan Mohanty

On December 20, 2024, two Policemen and two polio workers sustained injuries when a polio team was attacked by a mob in the Korangi town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.

On December 17, 2024, three Security Force (SF) personnel were killed and another three personnel sustained injuries as a military vehicle deployed for the protection of polio teams was targeted by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Draban area of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

On December 17, 2024, two terrorists were killed in retaliatory firing by SFs, when a group of militants attacked a polio vaccination team in the Kot Mubarak area of Dera Ghazi Khan District, Punjab. The militants launched the attack on the vaccination team, which was being escorted by the Police. The Police swiftly responded and moved the polio team to safety, while engaging in a firefight with the terrorists. A patrolling unit of the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and local Police arrived at the scene, countering the assault, resulting in an exchange of fire for approximately 40 minutes. The two terrorists were neutralised, and a rocket launcher, hand grenades, detonators, firearms, and a walkie-talkie were recovered.

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