Militant attack kills nine police, 15 militants dead

At least nine police officers were killed and more than two dozen injured in a militant attack on a checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan, with security forces killing 15 assailants in the ensuing clash. The assault occurred late on July 29 at the Khazina Banda police post in Hangu district, part of the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.

According to police officials, militants attacked the checkpoint with heavy weapons. When reinforcements were dispatched to assist, their vehicle was ambushed en route, damaging an armored personnel carrier. During the intense exchange of fire, nine policemen, including Deputy Superintendent Diyar Khan, were killed. At least 28 officers were wounded. Police stated their response resulted in the deaths of 15 militants, with several others injured.

While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion has fallen on the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also referred to as the Pakistani Taliban. A senior police official said the checkpoint was attacked by militants the government terms "Fitna al Khawarij," a label used for the TTP. The group, which seeks to overthrow the Pakistani state and impose...