ISLAMABAD: At least seven police officers were martyred and six militants killed late Friday when terrorists attacked a police training centre in northwestern Pakistan, triggering a fierce gunbattle that lasted for hours, officials said.
The assault targeted the police training facility in Ratta Kulachi, on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Police said the terrorists used heavy weapons and tried to storm the compound after a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the main gate.
The Terrorists first rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the training centre. After the initial blast, the attackers managed to storm inside the facility, where about 200 recruits and their trainers were present,” said Sajjad Ahmad, Dera Ismail Khan’s police chief.
Six-Hour Firefight and Swift Response
The gun battle between police and militants continued for nearly six hours, leaving seven police personnel martyred and thirteen others injured.
According to a police statement, the attackers launched a coordinated assault using heavy weapons. Officers on duty immediately returned fire, thwarting what officials described as an attempt to cause mass casualties.
The firefight continued into the night as terrorists hurled grenades and exchanged intense gunfire with police and paramilitary forces. Security units later cleared the compound, killing six militants and recovering suicide vests, explosives, weapons, and ammunition.
Nationwide Counterterrorism Operations
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the fallen officers for their bravery and sacrifice.
“The seven police officers gave their lives to foil the Khawarij terrorists’ attack,” Naqvi said, using a term the government employs for militants it accuses of having links to India.
“The police fought with extraordinary courage, neutralized three Khawarij terrorists, and crushed their evil designs.”
Earlier Friday, Pakistan’s military said its forces killed 30 TTP militants in multiple raids on hideouts in Orakzai and Kurram districts — part of a wider crackdown on insurgents behind recent attacks, including one that ambushed a convoy and killed 11 soldiers, among them two senior officers.
The army said the slain fighters were members of the Khawarij network, a term used by officials for extremist factions accused of being backed by India.
