15 Security Officials Killed in Militant Attack in Northwest Pakistan

At least 14 to 15 security personnel were killed and several others injured in a coordinated suicide bombing and militant assault on a police post in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province , officials and multiple reports confirmed on Sunday.

The attack took place in the Bannu district , when militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police post , triggering a massive blast that destroyed the structure. The explosion also caused partial collapse of nearby houses , trapping some officers under debris and prompting urgent rescue operations.

According to police sources, the blast was followed by a heavily armed militant assault , during which attackers stormed the damaged facility and engaged security forces in an intense gun battle. Reports indicate that militants may have used advanced tactics, including coordinated ground assault and possible drone support , intensifying the confrontation.

Rescue teams recovered bodies from the rubble after hours of operations, while injured personnel were shifted to nearby hospitals where a state of emergency was declared .

No group initially claimed responsibility, but later reports identified a breakaway faction, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan , as the claimant. Officials suspect links to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) , which has been blamed for multiple recent attacks in the region.

Authorities confirmed that the attackers targeted reinforcements as well, ambushing additional police units arriving at the scene, further increasing casualties.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi condemned the attack as a “cowardly act of terrorism” , expressing grief over the loss of lives and directing authorities to ensure best possible medical treatment for the injured .

The Bannu region has witnessed repeated militant violence in recent years , driven by cross-border militancy from Afghanistan and ongoing counterterror operations. The porous frontier and difficult terrain continue to challenge security forces, with several similar attacks reported in recent months.