<p>Peshawar: At least 15 policemen guarding polio vaccinators were killed by militants and 36 others injured in similar attacks during anti-polio drives in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/pakistan">Pakistan</a>'s restive <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/khyber-pakhtunkhwa">Khyber Pakhtunkhwa</a> province this year till May, according to official data.</p>.<p>Militants frequently target polio vaccinators in Pakistan terming them un-Islamic and against Sharia.</p>.<p>According to a report of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, 15 policemen were killed in as many attacks on polio vaccinators during anti-polio drives across the province in northwest Pakistan during the last five months of the current year 2024.</p>.Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif vows to 'eliminate terrorism' after seven soldiers killed in attack.<p>As many as 36 police officials guarding polio teams have been injured in similar attacks, it said.</p>.<p>Bajaur tribal district topped the list with 7 casualties, followed by Bannu with 2, and one each in Tank, South Waziristan, Khyber, Lakki Marwat, Mardan and North Waziristan districts.</p>.<p>Militant outfits run campaigns in their areas against anti-polio vaccination drives, threatening the local populace to keep their children below the age of 5 away from polio vaccination. Even educated people in some districts refuse to administer oral polio drops to their children.</p>.<p>Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic, according to the World Health Organisation.</p>
<p>Peshawar: At least 15 policemen guarding polio vaccinators were killed by militants and 36 others injured in similar attacks during anti-polio drives in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/pakistan">Pakistan</a>'s restive <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/khyber-pakhtunkhwa">Khyber Pakhtunkhwa</a> province this year till May, according to official data.</p>.<p>Militants frequently target polio vaccinators in Pakistan terming them un-Islamic and against Sharia.</p>.<p>According to a report of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, 15 policemen were killed in as many attacks on polio vaccinators during anti-polio drives across the province in northwest Pakistan during the last five months of the current year 2024.</p>.Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif vows to 'eliminate terrorism' after seven soldiers killed in attack.<p>As many as 36 police officials guarding polio teams have been injured in similar attacks, it said.</p>.<p>Bajaur tribal district topped the list with 7 casualties, followed by Bannu with 2, and one each in Tank, South Waziristan, Khyber, Lakki Marwat, Mardan and North Waziristan districts.</p>.<p>Militant outfits run campaigns in their areas against anti-polio vaccination drives, threatening the local populace to keep their children below the age of 5 away from polio vaccination. Even educated people in some districts refuse to administer oral polio drops to their children.</p>.<p>Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic, according to the World Health Organisation.</p>