Gunmen Kill Polio Worker, Policeman in Bajaur

In Bajaur district, northwestern Pakistan, gunmen on motorcycles attacked a polio vaccination team, killing a polio worker named Abu Huraira and a police officer, Luqman, who was providing security. This incident occurred during a nationwide campaign aimed at vaccinating 30 million children, amidst a backdrop of increasing violence against health workers and security personnel in the region. The attack follows a similar bombing that injured nine individuals involved in the vaccination efforts just days earlier, attributed to the Islamic State group. Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of the last two countries where polio is endemic, with 17 new cases reported since January. Misinformation and militant opposition continue to hinder vaccination efforts, as attacks on these teams have become frequent. Security forces have launched search operations to apprehend the attackers while the vaccination campaign faces interruptions due to the violence.