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At least nine policemen, including a senior officer, were killed and over two dozen others injured when militants attacked a checkpost in northwest Pakistan, police said on Thursday. The Wednesday attack on the Khazina Banda checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu district, bordering Afghanistan, also left 15 militants dead, police said. No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least nine police personnel, including a senior officer, were killed and more than two dozen others injured after heavily armed militants launched a coordinated attack on a police checkpost in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, authorities said on Thursday. Security forces retaliated strongly, killing at least 15 militants during the prolonged exchange of fire, according to police officials.

The attack took place on Wednesday night at the Khazina Banda police checkpost in Hangu district, a region bordering Afghanistan that has frequently witnessed militant violence in recent years. The assault is among the deadliest attacks targeting security personnel in the province this year and underscores the continuing security challenges facing Pakistan in its northwestern border regions.

No militant organisation immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said preliminary investigations indicated that the assault was carried out by militants belonging to Fitna al Khawarij, a term used by the Pakistani government to refer to members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

According to Hameed, the militants launched a large-scale assault on the police checkpost, triggering an intense gun battle that continued for several hours. As the attack unfolded, additional police reinforcements were dispatched to assist officers stationed at the post. However, the convoy carrying the reinforcement team also came under heavy militant fire before reaching its destination, further escalating the confrontation.

During the fierce exchange of gunfire, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Diyar Khan was among the officers killed while leading the response. In total, nine policemen lost their lives, while 28 others sustained injuries, several of them seriously.

Police officials said the security forces mounted a determined counteroffensive despite suffering heavy casualties. Their response resulted in the deaths of 15 militants, while several other attackers were believed to have been injured before fleeing the area. Security operations were continuing in and around the attack site to locate any remaining militants and secure the region.

A senior police official also confirmed the casualty figures while speaking to Dawn newspaper, stating that the gun battle erupted immediately after the militants launched their assault on the checkpost.

The attack drew swift condemnation from Pakistan's top leadership. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly denounced the assault and expressed condolences to the families of the slain police personnel.

In a statement, Prime Minister Sharif praised the sacrifices made by the country's police forces, describing them as the frontline defenders in Pakistan's ongoing fight against terrorism.

"Police have always served as the frontline force in the fight against terrorism," Sharif said, reaffirming the government's commitment to eliminating terrorism "in all its forms" across the country.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and later met President Zardari to brief him on the overall security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where authorities have been battling rising militant activity. According to the President's Office, the discussions focused on ongoing counterterrorism operations and measures to strengthen law enforcement capabilities.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi strongly condemned the attack and directed officials to submit a detailed report on the incident. He instructed health authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured officers and ordered government agencies to provide full support and assistance to the families of those killed in the line of duty.

 

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained one of Pakistan's most volatile regions due to persistent militant violence, cross-border infiltration and repeated security operations. The province shares a long and porous border with Afghanistan, making it particularly vulnerable to the movement of armed groups.

 

Pakistan's federal government has repeatedly accused the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of intensifying attacks since the collapse of a ceasefire agreement between the two sides in November 2022. Since then, security forces have faced a sharp increase in attacks targeting police stations, military installations and security checkpoints across the province.

 

The latest assault in Hangu highlights the continuing threat posed by militant groups despite ongoing counterterrorism operations. Security agencies remain on high alert as search operations continue in the area, while authorities have vowed to bring those responsible to justice and prevent further attacks on security personnel.