Pakistan says 15 security personnel killed in checkpoint attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A suicide bomber backed by armed militants attacked a security checkpoint in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing 15 security personnel, according to the military. The assault took place overnight in Tank district and targeted a checkpoint that security forces later said they had repelled in the initial phase of the attack. The military said 12 militants were also killed during the response.

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Officials said the attackers first tried to storm the checkpoint before being pushed back by security personnel. They then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall, causing a powerful blast and extensive damage to the facility. The military said those killed included 12 soldiers, two police officers and a former forest department official.

It also said a clearance operation was underway to locate and eliminate any remaining attackers. Pakistan's military blamed the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, for the attack. The group is separate from Afghanistan's ruling Taliban but is regarded as an allied militant organisation.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the TTP. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan's Taliban-led government of giving safe haven to TTP militants operating across the border, an allegation Kabul has consistently denied. The attack adds to a rise in militant violence in Pakistan in recent years, with security forces and police frequently targeted.

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Checkpoints in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have often been at the front line of clashes between militants and the state, reflecting the province's long-running security challenges. The latest incident is likely to intensify pressure on authorities to show they can protect personnel and hold territory in areas where armed groups remain active. The military's account indicates that the response was immediate and that the attackers suffered heavy losses, but it remains unclear how many militants were involved in the assault and whether any escaped.

It is also not yet clear how long the clearance operation will continue or whether further casualties may be found. The incident will be watched closely for any response from the TTP and for any official follow-up on security operations in the district.

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