ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s police killed 15 terrorists and wounded several others in a retaliatory operation following a terrorist attack on the Khazina Banda checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district late Wednesday.
A statement issued by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG) Police Zulfiqar Hameed on Thursday said the checkpost was attacked by Fitna al Khawarij — the term the Pakistani state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while police personnel were present.
The statement said officers gave an immediate response, with reinforcements rushed to the scene. However, the terrorists ambushed the incoming contingent, damaging an armoured personnel vehicle.
Despite the attack, the police personnel continued to fight with courage and professionalism, the statement said.
خزینہ چیک پوسٹ میں ہونے والے دہشتگرد حملے کے بعد پولیس 4 گھنٹوں سے بہادری اور پیشہ ورانہ انداز میں دہشت گردوں کا مقابلہ کر رہی ہے۔
ابتدائی اطلاعات کے مطابق 4 دہشتگرد ہلاک جبکہ متعدد زخمی ہوئے ہیں۔ دہشتگردوں کا زخمی ساتھیوں کو لیکر فرار ہونے کی کوشش۔
آپریشن بدستور جاری ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/OlNk0z17nG
— KP Police (@KP_Police1) July 29, 2026
During this fierce and long encounter, nine police officers, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), were martyred and 28 others were injured.
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed paid tribute to the unwavering determination and courage of the martyred policemen.
He said the police department will recommend the highest awards for the martyrs.
The IGP clarified that the morale of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police is high and the resolve is as strong as rocks.
IGP Zulfiqar Hameed visited L R H ,where he inquired about the health of police personnel injured in the clash with terrorists in Hangu.
You are our national heroes ,The courage and bravery you showed was outstanding.Your spirit and courage are an example for the entire force۔IGP pic.twitter.com/S3wjMhT0t0— KP Police (@KP_Police1) July 30, 2026
The IG asserted that KP police’s morale and resolve were strong, adding that the battle to wipe out terrorists from every corner of the province would continue.
It may be recalled that four Indian-backed terrorists were killed and several others injured during a joint operation by security forces, police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel in the Matta area of Swat on Wednesday.
President, PM condemnations
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the attack by the terrorists on a police check post in Hangu district.
In their statements, they expressed profound grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of DSP Diyar Khan and other police personnel.
President @AAliZardari and PM @CMShehbaz have urged every #Pakistani to remain vigilant and assist in identifying individuals and networks involved in human trafficking@PresOfPakistan @PakPMO #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/YD4mVO90zX pic.twitter.com/Q7WKKLhWAq
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) July 30, 2026
The President said sacrifices of our brave police officers and personnel are a national asset. The martyrs who laid down their lives for the peace of our beloved homeland will always be remembered.
He vowed to completely eliminate the terrorists operating with external backing against Pakistan, along with their facilitators.
The Prime Minister commended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police for eliminating fifteen Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in the retaliatory operation. He said police have always served as the frontline force in the fight against terrorism.
He reaffirmed the government’s firm resolve to eliminate terrorism in all its forms from the country.
Pakistan witnesses surge in terror activities
Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came into power.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP terrorist network. However, the Taliban regime failed to take any action against the terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil.
Also Read: Pakistan Forces Kill Four Terrorists in Counterterrorism Operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Due to the surge in terrorist attacks, Pakistan has intensified counterterrorism operations to eliminate the menace.
Last month, security forces killed 29 terrorists during a well-planned intelligence-based ground operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, followed by precision strikes in the border region targeting hideouts and safe havens of terrorists belonging to the banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist groups.
A monthly security assessment published in early June by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reported that Pakistan’s security situation deteriorated sharply in May after showing improvement over the previous two months. The decline was attributed mainly to a surge in terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According to the report, Balochistan was the worst-affected province, recording 71 terrorist attacks in May, up from 34 in April—a 109 per cent increase.
