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

At least 10 police officers were killed in an attack by Islamist terrorists on a police post in the Hangu district of northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border. The assault, which occurred late Wednesday, also resulted in the deaths of 15 attackers during several hours of intense fighting, according to provincial police chief Zulfikar Hameed.

Security forces reported that the terrorists used improvised explosive devices attached to quadcopters to ambush the police checkpoint. This incident marks the second major terrorist assault in the region within a week. Days earlier, a suicide bombing in the nearby Tank district killed 15 people, including 12 Pakistani army soldiers. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for that attack.

Terrorism in Pakistan's border areas has escalated significantly in recent months, primarily targeting military and police forces. Islamabad alleges that terrorists operate from safe havens within Afghanistan to plan and execute attacks in Pakistan. However, Afghanistan's Taliban government denies these accusations, asserting that terrorism is Pakistan's internal issue.

The TTP has been engaged in an insurgency against the Pakistani state since 2007, aiming to overthrow the government and establish its strict interpretation of Islamic governance. The recent surge in terror attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border raises concerns about potentially reigniting conflict between the two neighboring countries.

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