After Ceasefire Agreement, Pakistan Taliban Attack Polio Teams And Kill Policemen

 

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Pakistan Taliban, killed two policemen guarding polio teams in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in north-west Pakistan over the weekend. Another policeman was wounded even as the polio workers escaped unharmed.

The attacks began as soon as the one-month-long ceasefire ended between the TTP and the Imran Khan government. The TTP militants identify themselves closely with the Taliban militants in neighbouring Afghanistan and advocate for an Islamic rule in Pakistan—in a manner resembling Afghanistan.

Soon after the Kabul takeover by Taliban in August, the TTP began its attacks on the Pakistani Army and security forces. 

Aseefa B Zardari, polio ambassador and daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, tweeted about the attacks. In a series of tweets, she said: “The cowardly TTP have taken responsibility for the attack on health workers and police. They are attacking those who are trying to protect our children from disease. Now that they have openly admitted this, the govt has no excuse but to arrest these monsters.”

The TTP claimed responsibility for the initial attack on the polio team that took place on Saturday. The second attack has not been linked to any terror outfit. Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that the ceasefire agreement with the Pakistan government had ended just a day earlier on Friday with the TTP blaming the Pakistan government for the violation of the agreement.