Bike-borne gunmen shot dead a police official who was on duty to protect polio vaccinators in Khyber district of Pakistan on Monday, media reports said.

The slain cop was identified as Abdul Khaliq.

Police officials said that Abdul Khaliq was going for his duty to guard the polio vaccinators, when motorbike-riding armed men targeted him in the area of Jamrud town in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at Jamrud Sakhi bridge, reported ARY News.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two nations in the world where polio is endemic.

Terrorists often target vaccination teams and policemen guardian them.

Pakistan recorded at least 73 polio infections last year compared to six in 2023, reported ARY News.