Islamist militants kill 10 police officers in northwest Pakistan, say police

At least 10 police officers were killed in a drone attack and ambush by Islamist militants at a police post in northwest Pakistan's Hangu district, near the Afghan border. This incident marks the second major assault on security forces in less than a week, underscoring a sharp rise in militancy in the region.

The attack occurred late Wednesday, with militants using improvised explosive devices attached to quadcopters to strike the police check post. Several hours of fighting ensued, resulting in the deaths of 10 officers and an estimated 15 attackers, according to provincial police chief Zulfikar Hameed. The use of quadcopters by militants to target security forces has become increasingly common in recent months.

Militancy in Pakistan's border regions has escalated significantly, primarily targeting the military and police. Islamabad attributes this surge to militants operating from safe havens in Afghanistan, a claim that Afghanistan's Taliban government has consistently denied, stating that militancy is Pakistan's internal issue.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack. However, it follows closely on the heels of a suicide bombing in the nearby Tank district that killed 15 people, including 12 Pakistani army soldiers. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for that suicide attack. The TTP has been engaged in an insurgency against the Pakistani state since 2007, aiming to establish its strict interpretation of Islamic governance. The ongoing militant activities along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan raise concerns about potentially reigniting conflict between the two neighboring countries, which engaged in their most severe fighting in years in February.

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Ten officers and 15 of the attackers were killed in several hours of fighting.