Armed men abducted four polio vaccination workers in Tank, while two police officers protecting vaccination teams were shot dead in a separate attack in Mohmand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK — November 3, 2026: Four polio vaccination workers have been abducted by unidentified armed men in Tank district, while two police officers assigned to protect vaccination teams were shot dead in a separate attack in Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In the Tank incident, armed men intercepted a polio vaccination team in Jious village of Sheikh Attar Union Council and abducted four workers after opening fire. Police launched a search operation to trace the missing personnel and identify those responsible.

Two of the abducted workers were subsequently released in Lower South Waziristan, while efforts continued to locate the remaining two.

Two Police Officers Killed in Mohmand Attack

In a separate incident in Mohmand district, suspected militants opened fire on police personnel travelling to provide security to polio vaccination teams.

The attack killed two police officers and wounded another. The assailants reportedly arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire and escaped from the scene.

No group had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of reporting.

Security Concerns During Nationwide Polio Campaign

The incidents come as Pakistan conducts a nationwide polio vaccination campaign targeting approximately 24 million children.

Police officers regularly accompany vaccination teams in areas where security threats have affected immunisation activities. Attacks on security personnel and abductions of vaccination workers create additional challenges for health authorities working to reach children in vulnerable communities.

Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus is endemic.

Authorities are continuing investigations and security operations following the incidents. The recovery of the remaining abducted workers and protection of vaccination teams remain immediate concerns.

The latest attacks have renewed attention on the security risks faced by frontline health workers and police personnel involved in Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.