Gunmen kill two security officials protecting polio team in Balochistan

Two security officials assigned to protect polio vaccination workers were shot and killed by gunmen on motorcycles in Mastung, Balochistan, highlighting the persistent dangers faced by those involved in Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts. The attack occurred during a nationwide campaign aimed at vaccinating millions of children, with the health workers themselves remaining unharmed. No group has claimed responsibility, though such assaults are commonly linked to militants who distrust vaccination campaigns, often spreading misinformation about their purpose. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, reaffirming the government's commitment to continue polio eradication despite ongoing violence. Security measures for vaccination teams are being reviewed and strengthened following this and similar recent attacks. The continued targeting of polio teams underscores the broader challenges in eliminating the virus, which remains endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan.