Thirteen Killed in Militant Attack on Police Training Center in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least seven policemen and six militants were killed in a late-night attack on a police training center in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, officials confirmed on Saturday. The assault marks one of the deadliest incidents this year amid a renewed surge in militancy in the region bordering Afghanistan.

The attack occurred in Dera Ismail Khan district, a long-troubled area that has witnessed frequent strikes by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. Police said the assailants launched the attack shortly before midnight, setting off a powerful explosion followed by an intense exchange of gunfire.

According to police spokesman Yaqoob Khan, the assault began when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the facility’s gate, causing part of the wall to collapse. “The impact of the blast killed two policemen instantly,” Khan said. “A fierce gunbattle ensued, resulting in the deaths of seven policemen and six militants, while 13 others were injured.”

He added that all 200 trainees and staff members present at the center were safely evacuated after security forces regained control of the compound.

The TTP initially claimed responsibility for the attack but later retracted its statement without explanation. The incident came just a day after unconfirmed reports of airstrikes in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which allegedly targeted Noor Wali Mehsud, the TTP’s top leader.

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in militant violence in recent years, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. The TTP, which has waged a long-running insurgency against the Pakistani state, frequently targets police and military personnel in ambushes, bombings, and suicide attacks.

Earlier this week, at least 12 Pakistani soldiers, including three officers, were killed in separate militant attacks in the same province, further highlighting the deteriorating security situation.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban government in Afghanistan of sheltering TTP militants and allowing them to stage cross-border attacks from Afghan territory. Kabul has consistently denied the allegations, insisting it does not permit the use of its soil for hostile acts against Pakistan.

Tensions between the two neighbors escalated on Friday after Kabul accused Islamabad of violating its airspace and bombing a border town. The Pakistani military dismissed the accusations but warned that it would take “whatever measures are necessary” to protect the country’s territorial integrity.

The latest attack underscores the growing threat posed by resurgent militant networks in Pakistan’s northwest, raising fears of a broader security crisis unless coordinated efforts are made to curb cross-border terrorism.