Explosive Assault on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Checkpoint Kills Fifteen, Including Fourteen Security Officials

A devastating assault on a joint police checkpoint in Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed 15 individuals, including 14 security officials, according to a statement released by the military’s media wing on Friday.

The deceased include 12 soldiers, two police officers, and a government official.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement confirmed that the incident occurred early Friday and was carried out by Fitna-al-Khawarij, a designation for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

The military’s media wing detailed that the attackers attempted to breach the checkpoint’s perimeter, but their efforts were “swiftly and decisively repelled by the vigilant and resolute response of security forces.”

The deployed security forces demonstrated “unwavering courage and professional excellence,” engaging and neutralizing 12 terrorists, according to the ISPR addendum.

The statement further noted that the attackers subsequently rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall.

“The resulting blast impact severely damaged the checkpoint’s infrastructure. Consequently, 15 sons of the soil—12 military personnel, two police officers, and a government official formerly with the forest department—made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom (martyrdom),” the statement read.

ISPR stated that a sanitisation operation is ongoing to track down any remaining terrorists in the area, vowing that the “relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’—approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan—will continue at full pace as security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan work to eliminate the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.”

“These sacrifices of our soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation at all costs,” ISPR added.

Last week, security forces eliminated 24 terrorists in Bannu district and its surrounding areas over a 24-hour period, as announced by the military’s media affairs wing.

The ISPR statement highlighted a recent “surge” in terrorist activities and suicide bombings targeting police in Bannu.

“Security forces have initiated extensive joint intelligence-based operations to hunt the perpetrators of these heinous attacks and dismantle their support infrastructure. Accordingly, following fierce fire exchanges in Bannu district and its adjoining areas over the past 24 hours, 24 khawarij affiliated with the Indian proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij were neutralized,” the statement said.

In May, at least 15 police officers were killed in a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu district.

The attackers targeted the post by ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced a significant increase in terrorist attacks over the past year.

According to the Annual Security Report 2025 from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the province recorded a significant surge in violence, as “fatalities rose from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.”

In response to a resurgence of militancy, particularly in KP and Balochistan—where attacks frequently target security personnel and law enforcement agencies—the state has intensified counter-terrorism operations.

Source link