Pakistan Security – Deadly Militant Assault Leaves Nine Police Personnel Killed in Hangu
Pakistan Security – A major attack on a police checkpoint in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province left at least nine police personnel dead and 28 others injured after heavily armed militants launched an assault in Hangu district. The incident, reported on Thursday, highlights the continuing security challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in the country’s northwestern region.
Police Responded to Overnight Attack
According to local media reports, the assault targeted the Khazina Banda police checkpost in Hangu. Authorities said security personnel stationed at the checkpoint immediately returned fire after coming under attack, while reinforcements were rushed to the area to support the response.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed stated that the exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of nine police officials, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Another 28 officers sustained injuries during the confrontation and were shifted for medical treatment.
Officials Blame Banned Militant Group
The provincial police chief said the attack was carried out by militants linked to Fitna al Khawarij, the term used by the Pakistani government for members associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Investigations are continuing as security agencies assess the scale of the assault and examine intelligence related to the incident.
Authorities have also increased security measures across nearby districts following the deadly attack, fearing the possibility of further militant activity.
Pattern of Increasing Attacks on Police
The latest violence comes amid a noticeable rise in attacks targeting security personnel across Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These regions have witnessed repeated assaults on police stations, military installations, and checkpoints over recent months.
Security analysts have noted that law enforcement personnel operating in border districts continue to face significant risks due to recurring militant activities. The government has repeatedly announced efforts to strengthen counterterrorism operations in affected areas.
Earlier Incidents Raised Security Concerns
Earlier this month, on July 15, armed attackers carried out separate assaults in the Bannu and Lower Dir districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Those incidents claimed the lives of two police personnel and left 26 people injured, including 22 members of the police force.
In Bannu, attackers reportedly targeted the Miryab police station with a vehicle packed with explosives. The explosion was followed by an extended gun battle between security forces and the assailants that continued for several hours.
District Police Officer Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Furqan Bilal said the attackers attempted to drive the explosives-filled vehicle directly into the police station before it detonated, triggering intense fighting around the facility.
Rescue Access Was Deliberately Disrupted
Reports indicated that the attackers had also destroyed a previously damaged bridge leading to the police station shortly before launching the assault. Officials believe this was intended to delay the arrival of additional police units and emergency rescue teams, making the security response more difficult.
In another incident reported the same day, two police officers lost their lives while 16 others suffered injuries during a gunfight with armed militants in the Haidaray Top area of Lower Dir.
The series of attacks has once again underscored the security pressures facing Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies, particularly in regions where militant groups continue to challenge government authority. Authorities have pledged to continue operations against armed groups while strengthening security arrangements in vulnerable districts.