DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi announced on Sunday that the recent attack on a checkpoint in Tank involved more than 1,300 kilograms of explosives, a tragedy that claimed 15 lives, including 14 security personnel.
The Governor shared these details during a briefing with journalists at the Regional Police Office in Dera Ismail Khan following a security meeting regarding the regional law and order situation.
Also in attendance were District Police Officers Ziauddin Ahmad of DI Khan and Abdul Samad Khan of Tank.
Kundi characterized the Friday attack on the Manji Khel checkpoint in Tank as a devastating incident where personnel from the Pakistan Army, police, and the forest department were martyred while performing their duties.
He noted that the use of over 1,300 kilograms of explosives highlights the immense scale and sophistication of the current terrorist threat.
The KP Governor called for a unified national front against terrorism, emphasizing that the federal and provincial governments, security forces, and the citizenry must collaborate to neutralize militant threats and secure lasting peace in the province.
He remarked that Pakistan is currently navigating both internal and external security challenges, noting that security forces continue to make significant sacrifices to defend national sovereignty and public safety.
Kundi further alleged that external actors are using Afghan territory and various terrorist groups to destabilize Pakistan, claiming that weapons left behind by international forces in Afghanistan are frequently utilized in terrorist attacks within Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He stated that the resilience shown by the people of the province and the country’s security forces remains unshaken, asserting that violence such as the Tank attack will not diminish public or military morale.
“I have met with the injured personnel, and their courage and determination are truly commendable,” Kundi said.
The Governor pledged to present the regional police’s recommendations to the federal government. He also committed to discussing increased compensation and support packages for injured security personnel with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the provincial administration.
He emphasized that supporting the families of martyrs and injured personnel is a collective responsibility and assured them of ongoing assistance.
Advocating for closer coordination between Islamabad and Peshawar, Kundi suggested that the provincial government must work in tandem with federal authorities to combat terrorism effectively.
He stressed the necessity of intensifying intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and indicated he would discuss this strategy with the Chief Minister.
Kundi reiterated that restoring peace to KP and the broader region is a top national priority, noting that the police continue to serve with professionalism and resolve despite increasingly difficult conditions.
The Governor’s comments follow the deadly attack in Tank, where terrorists attempted to breach a joint police checkpoint perimeter, according to the military’s media wing. The Inter-Service Public Relations stated that security forces decisively foiled the attempt, resulting in the elimination of 12 terrorists.
Following the failed breach, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall, causing significant damage to the checkpoint’s infrastructure.
This incident occurs as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains under threat; recently, security forces thwarted a suicide bombing in South Waziristan, killing four terrorists, including the suicide bomber.
A monthly security assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) in early June indicated that after two months of improvement, Pakistan’s security landscape deteriorated sharply in May, primarily due to rising terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
