15 Killed in Terrorist Attack on Police Checkpost in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR, July 24: At least 15 people, including 12 soldiers, two policemen and a government official, were killed after terrorists attacked a joint police checkpost in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

The attack took place early Friday in Tank district, where militants identified by the military as Fitna-al-Khawarij, a term used by Pakistani authorities for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), attempted to breach the perimeter of the security post.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces responded swiftly and decisively, preventing the attackers from entering the checkpost. The statement said personnel deployed at the facility displayed "unwavering courage and professional excellence" and engaged the militants, killing 15 terrorists.

The military said the attackers later rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the checkpost’s perimeter wall, causing a powerful blast that severely damaged the infrastructure. The explosion resulted in the deaths of 15 security personnel and officials, including 12 army soldiers, two police officers and a former forest department official serving in a government capacity.

ISPR said a sanitisation operation was underway to search the area and track down any remaining militants involved in the attack.

The military vowed that counter-terrorism operations under the government-backed "Azm-i-Istehkam" campaign would continue to eliminate terrorism and dismantle networks supporting militant activities.

The latest attack comes amid a rise in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces have intensified operations against armed groups. Last week, the military said security forces killed 24 militants in operations in Bannu district and surrounding areas following a recent surge in attacks targeting police and security personnel.

In May, at least 15 police personnel were killed in a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu district, where militants targeted the facility using an explosives-laden vehicle.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a sharp increase in militant attacks over the past year. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), fatalities from violence in the province increased from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025, driven largely by renewed militant activity targeting security forces and law enforcement agencies.