ISLAMABD (Dispatches) -- 
Police in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said that four people, including three Afghan nationals, were killed during a gun battle with security forces in Peshawar.
Officials said the group had long been on the police wanted list for armed robberies and was tracked down after intelligence reports indicated their presence in the area. The suspects allegedly opened fire when officers arrived, prompting police to return fire.
According to police, the gang had been active since 2003, often disguising themselves as officers to commit robberies. They were reportedly behind the recent theft of millions of rupees and jewelry from a doctor’s home.
Senior officer Masood Ahmed Bangash told Geo News that all suspects were identified and confirmed that three were Afghan nationals. He added the group was wanted in multiple cities, including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Nowshera.
Authorities recovered several weapons and motorcycles from the scene, including assault rifles, pistols, and ammunition, adding that forensic examinations are underway.
The incident has stirred concern among Afghan refugee communities in Pakistan, who fear rising stigmatization amid increasing security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Human rights groups have urged authorities not to conflate criminal cases with the broader refugee population.
Pakistan currently hosts more than 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees and an estimated 600,000 undocumented migrants. Tensions have escalated in recent months as Islamabad intensifies deportations, citing security concerns and border instability.
The Taliban’s embassy in Islamabad has not commented on the deaths of the three Afghan nationals. The clash comes amid growing diplomatic and security strains between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Observers warn that incidents like this may further complicate already fragile ties between the two neighbors and heighten the uncertainty facing Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.