Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday condemned the killing of 10 police personnel in a militant attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kohat district, pledging continued action against terrorism amid growing security concerns in the province.

The attack took place on Wednesday in the Darabukach area near Kohat, where police personnel were returning from an operation against illegal gold mining conducted in coordination with the district administration.

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police, militants attacked the returning police team, triggering an exchange of fire that left 10 officers and 18 suspected militants dead. Deputy Superintendent of Police Haider Zaman was among those killed, while several personnel sustained injuries.

In a statement, President Zardari expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officers and said attacks on law enforcement personnel would not weaken the country's efforts against militancy. He acknowledged the role of KP Police in counterterrorism operations and called for the recovery of those injured in the incident.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is visiting Türkiye to attend the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), also condemned the attack and reaffirmed the government's commitment to combating terrorism.

The prime minister said the police response, which authorities reported had resulted in the killing of 18 militants, demonstrated the force's ability to confront armed groups operating in the province.

He also alleged links between criminal networks and Fitna al Khawarij, the term used for militants associated with the banned Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In its account of the incident, KP Police claimed the attackers had acted at the behest of individuals involved in criminal activities, suggesting cooperation between militant groups and illegal mining networks.

However, authorities have not publicly presented evidence establishing the alleged connection between the attackers and those involved in illegal gold mining.

The TTP has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Associated Press. KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has sought a report on the incident, including details of the operation and the circumstances surrounding the police casualties.

The attack comes amid continued militant violence in KP, particularly in districts bordering Afghanistan and the former tribal areas, where police and security forces have faced repeated attacks.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militant activity and counterterrorism operations continued across parts of the province during the reporting period from October 30 to November 5.

The incident also comes against the backdrop of changes to KP's administration following the imposition of governor's rule and a state of emergency on October 11. The federal government imposed the measures after accusing the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) led provincial administration of failing to cooperate with counterterrorism efforts.

The Kohat attack has brought attention to the security risks facing police personnel during operations against criminal activity, particularly where authorities allege that militant groups and criminal networks operate alongside one another.

While the government has reiterated its commitment to counterterrorism operations, the circumstances surrounding the attack and the alleged links between illegal mining and militancy remain matters requiring investigation.