A deadly overnight assault on a police training school in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has left seven policemen and six terrorists dead after a fierce five-hour gun battle that followed a suicide bombing. The attack, which began late on Friday at the Ratta Kulachi Police Training School in Dera Ismail Khan district, was one of the most audacious strikes on a security installation in recent months.
According to police officials, the assault began when terrorists rammed an explosives-laden truck into the main gate of the facility, triggering a massive blast that ripped through the compound’s entrance. The explosion was followed by intense gunfire as militants, some wearing different uniforms, stormed inside and opened indiscriminate fire on police personnel.
“Three terrorists were earlier neutralised in retaliatory fire by police personnel after the attack on Ratta Kulachi Police Training School,” police said, adding that several others were believed to be hiding within the compound at the time.
As the firefight intensified, elite units, including SSG commandos, Al-Burq Force, and the Elite Force, were deployed to assist the local police in flushing out the attackers. Senior officers, including DPO Dera Ismail Khan Sahibzada Sajjad Ahmed and RPO Syed Ashfaq Anwar, personally supervised the operation.
A police spokesperson said that during the clearance operation, which continued late into the night, three more terrorists were killed. “During the exchange of fire, the militants continued throwing hand grenades,” the officer said.
The total death toll rose to seven police personnel, with thirteen others injured. All the wounded were promptly shifted to nearby hospitals. Officials confirmed that the condition of some remained critical.
According to the district police chief, around 200 trainees, instructors, and staff members were present in the training school when the attack began. “All trainee recruits and staff members were safely evacuated to secure locations,” the DPO said.
Also read: Pakistan signs deal with PoK protesters after five days of unrest
Security forces recovered suicide vests, explosives, modern weapons, and ammunition from the slain attackers. Police said the terrorists had intended to seize control of the facility and inflict large-scale casualties before being stopped.
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zulfiqar Hameed, confirmed that the area had been completely cleared by early Saturday morning. “A search and clean-up operation is underway to eliminate any remaining threats,” he said.
The IGP praised the leadership of the RPO and DPO for coordinating the operation under heavy fire. “Their decisive action prevented an even greater tragedy,” he said, announcing rewards for officers and personnel who took part in the mission.
The assault comes as Pakistan continues to face a resurgence of militant violence, particularly in its northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan. Attacks on police and security installations have grown increasingly frequent, with terror outfits exploiting rugged terrain and cross-border sanctuaries.
Authorities suspect the involvement of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an outlawed group that has been responsible for several high-casualty strikes against law enforcement agencies in recent years. Officials said investigators were examining the recovered weapons and communications devices to determine the attackers’ identities and affiliations.
The incident has reignited debate over Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy and the challenges of securing police and training institutions — often soft targets in regions plagued by militancy. Security analysts noted that the latest attack demonstrated both the operational capability of militant groups and their intent to undermine state institutions.
As dawn broke over Dera Ismail Khan, security forces remained stationed around the devastated training compound. The smouldering ruins of the gate, scattered debris, and bullet-riddled walls stood as grim reminders of a night of terror and heroism — a night in which police personnel once again bore the brunt of Pakistan’s long war against extremism.
Follow us
