Polio Vaccination Team Attacked in Pakistan

In northwestern Pakistan, unidentified assailants attacked a polio vaccination team, resulting in the deaths of a campaign worker and a policeman. This incident occurred amidst a national drive to eliminate polio. Islamist militant groups have historically targeted such campaigns, misrepresenting them as Western plots against local children.

In a tragic incident in northwestern Pakistan, unidentified assailants opened fire on a polio vaccination team, resulting in the deaths of a health worker and a policeman who was providing security, according to local police reports.

The brutal attack occurred in Bajaur tribal district, a region bordering Afghanistan, just two days after Pakistan initiated a national campaign aimed at eradicating polio from the country, a virus that still threatens public health despite being mostly eradicated globally.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, similar assaults have previously been attributed to Islamist militant groups that regard the vaccination efforts as Western conspiracies to sterilize children. In response, a local police union has called for a strike and a boycott of security duties for the ongoing campaign.

(With inputs from agencies.)