The Pakistan Taliban is likely to come under suspicion as it has launched series of attacks on Pakistani security forces in the region in recent months.
At least 11 security officials have reportedly been killed in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday after terrorists attacked the Khazina police post in Hangu district, along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The attack left 22 security personnel injured.
Fifteen terrorists were also killed in an hourlong gunbattle, though no group has so far claimed responsibility of the attack, the Associated Press reported. However, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is likely to come under suspicion as it has launched series of attacks on Pakistani security forces in the region in recent months.
The Pakistani police officials also blamed the TTP, or Fitna al Khawarij, a term the government uses for the banned terror outfit, for the attack.
Following the attack on the police checkpost, reinforcements were dispatched to assist, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. However, the vehicle carrying additional personnel also came under fire, the official said.
Police said the militants attacked the police post with heavy weapons. Reinforcements dispatched to the scene were ambushed en route, damaging an armored personnel carrier before officers fought back, according to the statement.
It comes just days after unidentified militants attacked another checkpoint in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.