ISLAMABAD: Family members and high-ranking government officials conducted funeral prayers for victims of a deadly assault in Pakistan’s northwestern Tank district on Friday, with the fallen personnel receiving full state honors, police confirmed.
The attack claimed the lives of 15 individuals, including 12 soldiers, two police officers, and one government official, when militants targeted a joint police and security forces checkpoint in Tank, according to a military statement released Friday. This represents one of the most lethal incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in recent weeks.
Military sources reported that security forces eliminated 12 attackers during the overnight operation, which commenced when assailants attempted to breach the checkpoint before detonating an explosive-laden vehicle that caused significant damage to the facility.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief and chief secretary were among the senior officials who participated in the funeral ceremonies for the victims, as confirmed by provincial police authorities.
“Funeral prayers for the martyrs of Manji Khel Check Post were offered with state honors at Police Lines Tank,” the police announced on X, noting that the police chief and chief secretary also visited injured personnel and provided them with financial assistance checks.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which shares a border with Afghanistan, has experienced increased militant activity in recent years, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other militant organizations frequently targeting security forces and police installations.
Earlier this month, two police officers were killed and two others injured when a roadside bomb exploded, which authorities said was targeting an armored personnel carrier in Tank district.
Pakistan has attributed the rising militancy in its western regions to groups operating from Afghan territory, a claim that Kabul denies. These attacks have strained diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul, resulting in cross-border tensions since February of this year.
