At least 15 people, including 14 security personnel, were killed after terrorists attacked a joint police check post in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, the military said.According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations, the attack took place in the Tank district and was carried out by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).ISPR said the attackers initially attempted to breach the check post’s perimeter but were repelled by security forces.“The attackers attempted to breach the check post’s perimeter, but their attempts were swiftly and decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of security forces,” the military’s media wing said.The security personnel engaged the militants and killed 15 terrorists during the exchange of fire, it added.The attackers then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the check post, triggering a powerful blast that caused extensive damage to the facility.“Due to blast impact, infrastructure at the check post was seriously damaged; resultantly, 15 brave sons of the soil, including 12 military personnel, two policemen and a government official from the forest department, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat (martyrdom),” the statement said.The ISPR said a sanitisation operation was underway to track down any remaining militants in the area. It added that Pakistan’s security forces would continue counter-terrorism operations under the “Azm-i-Istehkam” campaign.“These sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs,” the statement added.The attack comes amid a spike in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Last week, the ISPR said security forces killed 24 militants in Bannu district and adjoining areas during intelligence-based operations following a recent surge in attacks targeting police and civilians.Earlier in May, at least 15 police personnel were killed in a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu after militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the facility.
