Unidentified gunmen have claimed the lives of two tribal elders in Lower South Waziristan, marking the latest in a series of targeted killings that have plagued the region's traditional leadership. The attack occurred on Sunday as the victims travelled by car through the Zarmilan area, according to police officials. Main Developments District Police Officer Shah Hassan confirmed that Haji Gul and Malik Badshah, both members of the Suleman Khel tribe, were en route from Gul Kach towards Zarmilan when assailants opened fire on their vehicle at Darozanda. The victims sustained multiple bullet wounds and died at the scene. Read also: Murder Charge Added in Karachi Businessman's Death Probe Following the shooting, the attackers managed to escape the area before authorities could respond. A preliminary report has been registered at the Toi Khulla police station, with investigators now examining all aspects of the incident. Efforts are currently underway to trace and apprehend the assailants, though no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The DPO emphasised that every angle is being explored as the investigation progresses. Background Lower South Waziristan, like much of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has experienced persistent security challenges including targeted killings, bomb blasts, kidnappings for ransom, extortion, and assaults on security personnel. Tribal elders and their families have increasingly found themselves in the crosshairs of these attacks. May 2026 saw tribal elder Malik Tariq Wazir, chief of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe, killed alongside two others in an improvised explosive device blast near Gulshan Plaza in Wana's busy Rustam Bazaar. Four additional people were injured when the device, allegedly planted overnight, detonated as Tariq's vehicle passed through the market. Just one month later, in June 2026, two sons of tribal elder Malik Jamil Wazir were fatally shot near Kari Kot Bazaar in Wana tehsil. The brothers were travelling by motorcycle when armed men opened fire, killing both instantly and wounding a passerby before fleeing the scene. Why It Matters The recurring targeting of tribal elders strikes at the heart of the region's traditional governance structures, which have long served as intermediaries between communities and state authorities. Each assassination undermines the informal justice systems and dispute-resolution mechanisms that remain vital in areas where formal state presence is limited. These attacks also signal the persistent capability of militant networks to operate with impunity despite ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. The pattern of violence against elders and their families suggests an intentional strategy to destabilise tribal authority and eliminate voices that might oppose extremist influence. What's Next Police have launched a formal investigation and are working to identify and arrest those responsible for Sunday's killings. The preliminary report filed at Toi Khulla police station will form the basis for further legal proceedings as evidence is gathered. Questions remain about whether these latest killings are connected to previous attacks on tribal elders in the region, and whether security forces will increase protective measures for remaining tribal leaders. The community now awaits concrete progress in tracing the assailants who continue to operate with apparent ease in the area.