Pakistan's Battle Against Polio Faces Terrorist Opposition

Three terrorists were killed in a gunfight after attacking polio vaccinators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The incident follows Pakistan's third nationwide polio campaign aimed at vaccinating 45 million children. In another incident, militants took a vaccinators' team hostage. Tribesmen oppose polio vaccination, deeming it un-Islamic.

The escalating fight against polio in Pakistan took a violent turn on Tuesday when three terrorists were killed after they attacked a team of polio vaccinators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The conflict highlights the ongoing challenges faced by health workers in the region.

On the same day, another group of militants took hostage an entire polio vaccination team at a local dispensary, intensifying the security crisis surrounding the immunization drive. This comes as Pakistan launches its third nationwide polio campaign, aiming to reach 45 million children.

In addition to the immediate threats from armed groups, health officials face resistance from local tribesmen who reject oral polio vaccines on religious grounds. Pakistan, alongside Afghanistan, remains one of the last nations where polio is endemic, underscoring the global urgency of these efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)