Pakistan: Eight Police Personnel, Including DSP, Killed in Terrorist Attack on Hangu Check Post

PESHAWAR (Shamim Shahid) — At least eight police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), were killed and 18 others injured in a terrorist attack on the Khazana Check Post in Hangu district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday night, officials said.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Tariq Habib, terrorists launched a coordinated attack on the Khazana Banda police check post, triggering an intense exchange of fire and a subsequent security operation.

DSP Diyar Khan sustained critical injuries during the operation and was shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds. Seven other police personnel were also killed, bringing the total death toll to eight.

The DPO said 18 police personnel, including DSP Mujahid Hussain, were wounded and have been shifted to different hospitals for treatment. Officials warned that the death toll could rise as several of the injured remain in critical condition.

Police said security forces launched a retaliatory operation in which six terrorists were killed. Search and clearance operations are continuing in the area.

Following the attack, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Suhail Afridi strongly condemned the assault and sought a detailed report from the Inspector General of Police. He paid tribute to the fallen officers, expressed condolences to their families, and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured.

"The sacrifices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the fight against terrorism are unforgettable," the chief minister said, adding that restoring peace remains the government's top priority and that the sacrifices of police personnel would not go in vain.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the attack, expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of the DSP and other police personnel.

"The sacrifices of the fallen officers are a national asset, and terrorists will never succeed in their malicious objectives," the governor said.

Authorities have launched further investigations into the attack while security operations in the area remain ongoing.