On October 14, 2025, a Levies constable named Abdul Kabir was killed in the line of duty while guarding a polio vaccination team in the Matta area of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The attack, which authorities say was carried out by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle, occurred just one day after the government launched a nationwide campaign aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children against polio. The tragic event has once again cast a harsh spotlight on the persistent dangers faced by public health workers in Pakistan—and the enduring struggle to eradicate a disease that continues to cripple children in the region.
According to Swat District Police Officer Muhammad Umar Khan, the incident unfolded as two female health workers were administering vaccines inside a house, while Constable Abdul Kabir stood guard outside. "The workers were administering vaccines inside a house while the constable stood guard outside when he was attacked," Khan told reporters, adding that the assailants fled the scene immediately. Police and law enforcement officials swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend the culprits. As of Tuesday evening, the search was still underway.
The attack came despite additional security measures put in place for the vaccination drive. Special orders had been issued for the campaign, with 285 police personnel deployed nationwide to protect vaccination teams. Yet, as the events in Swat demonstrate, the risks remain ever-present. In 2024 alone, at least 20 people were killed and 53 injured during anti-polio operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscoring the grave dangers faced by both health workers and their escorts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wasted no time in condemning the attack. In a statement released Tuesday, he expressed deep sorrow over the "martyrdom of Levies official Abdul Kabir," offering prayers for the slain officer and extending condolences to his bereaved family. Sharif did not mince words about the nature of the crime: "The attack on those serving the important cause of polio eradication was intolerable." He reaffirmed the government's resolve, saying, "The government is committed to the complete eradication of polio from the country. Despite such resistance from terrorists, the anti-polio campaign continues with full momentum and will go on until the disease is completely eradicated."
Other senior officials echoed the prime minister's sentiments. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the incident and paid tribute to Abdul Kabir, stating, "The assailants who targeted the team working to safeguard the future of our children do not deserve any leniency." Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also weighed in, declaring, "Those who target polio workers strike at the very future of our nation. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Such cowardly acts will never deter our resolve to protect our children from polio and secure a healthier, stronger Pakistan." Federal Minister Engineer Amir Maqam added, "Those who lay down their lives in the line of national duty are true heroes of the nation."
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) expressed shock at the incident, stating, "This is an immense loss for the polio programme. Frontline and security personnel serve with extraordinary courage and dedication to ensure every child is protected from this crippling disease. The PEI stands in solidarity with all frontline workers who risk their lives to serve their communities with unwavering commitment." Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, added, "Our frontline and security personnel are the lifeline of the polio programme, serving with courage and dedication to protect Pakistan’s children. We stand in solidarity with all frontline workers, honour their sacrifice, and remain committed to continuing this mission with even greater resolve."
The ongoing national anti-polio campaign, which began on October 13 and is scheduled to run through October 19, 2025, is the fourth of its kind this year. Led by the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) and its partners, the campaign aims to vaccinate over 45 million children in 159 districts across Pakistan. In addition to polio drops, children are also receiving Vitamin A supplements to help strengthen their immunity. The campaign’s ambitious targets include 23.3 million children under five in Punjab, 10.6 million in Sindh, 7.2 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2.6 million in Balochistan, 700,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 200,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 400,000 in Islamabad.
Despite significant progress in recent years, Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world—alongside Afghanistan—where polio is still endemic. According to the World Health Organization, transmission of the wild poliovirus has never been interrupted in either country. As of October 2025, the NEOC confirmed that 27 polio cases had been reported in Pakistan, with seven in Sindh province alone. Since January, official figures show 29 cases nationwide. These numbers, while lower than in previous years, highlight the ongoing challenges in eradicating the virus.
Security risks, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation continue to hinder eradication efforts. Militants, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, have a long history of targeting polio workers and their security details. Since the 1990s, more than 200 polio workers and police officers protecting them have been killed in Pakistan, according to health and security officials. The attacks are often fueled by conspiracy theories, with militants falsely claiming that vaccination campaigns are part of a Western plot to sterilize Muslim children. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the October 14 attack, but suspicion typically falls on militants who have orchestrated similar assaults in the past.
Public resistance to vaccination remains a stubborn obstacle. While recent immunisation drives have seen a decrease in vaccine refusals in some areas, others—like Lowi Mamund Tehsil—have witnessed residents announcing boycotts. The government and health authorities are keenly aware that continued vigilance and public cooperation are essential if Pakistan is to finally stamp out the disease.
For the families of those killed, the cost of the campaign is deeply personal. The loss of Abdul Kabir is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those on the front lines of public health. As Prime Minister Sharif put it, "Despite such resistance from terrorists, the anti-polio campaign continues with full momentum and will go on until the disease is completely eradicated." The resolve of the government, the dedication of health workers, and the courage of security personnel have become the backbone of Pakistan’s fight against polio.
As Pakistan’s latest vaccination drive presses on, the nation mourns another fallen hero—and steels itself for the challenges that remain in the quest to protect every child from the grip of polio.
