Militants Attack Police Checkpoint in Bannu
At least 12 police officers died after militants attacked a police checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan.
The attackers detonated a car bomb before launching a coordinated assault on the security post in the Fateh Khel area of Bannu, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Officials confirmed that five officers sustained injuries during the attack, while another officer remains missing.
Gunmen Stormed Checkpoint After Explosion
According to police authorities, a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the checkpoint late Saturday night.
After the explosion, several armed militants stormed the facility and opened fire on security personnel.
A police official in Bannu, Muhammad Sajjad Khan, confirmed the casualty figures while speaking to AFP.
He said the gunmen launched the operation shortly after the powerful blast hit the checkpoint.
Militants Used Drones and Heavy Weapons
Security officials revealed that the attackers used advanced tactics during the assault.
According to a senior administrative official, the militants deployed quadcopters alongside heavy weapons during the operation.
The official also disclosed that the attackers seized weapons from the police station before fleeing the scene.
“In addition, while retreating, the attackers took police personnel and weapons from the station with them,” the official said.
Rising Violence Deepens Regional Tension
Bannu and other parts of northwestern Pakistan have witnessed increasing militant attacks in recent years.
The violence has intensified tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistani authorities have repeatedly accused the Taliban-led government in Kabul of allowing militants to operate from Afghan territory.
However, Taliban officials continue to deny the allegations.
The strained relationship between both countries has also triggered deadly clashes and airstrikes in recent months.
Security Concerns Grow in Border Regions
The latest attack adds to growing security concerns across Pakistan’s border provinces.
Authorities continue to battle armed groups operating in the region, especially in areas close to the Afghan border.
Security agencies have intensified operations against militant networks as attacks on police and military personnel continue to rise.
