Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - At least 12 police officers were killed after militants carried out a deadly car bomb attack and ambush in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region bordering Afghanistan known for frequent insurgent violence. Pakistani officials said the attackers rammed an explosives-filled vehicle into a police security post before opening fire in a coordinated assault that triggered intense clashes with security forces.

According to local authorities, the explosion caused massive destruction around the checkpoint, collapsing nearby structures and leaving several officers trapped under debris. Security officials reported that multiple militants armed with automatic weapons attempted to storm the compound immediately after the blast, leading to a prolonged gun battle. Several attackers were reportedly killed during the exchange, while emergency teams rushed injured personnel to nearby hospitals. Witnesses described scenes of panic and heavy smoke rising across the area following the powerful detonation. The attack took place in Bannu, a strategically sensitive district in northwestern Pakistan that has witnessed rising militant activity in recent years. Pakistani security agencies have repeatedly warned about increased cross-border movement of armed groups operating near the Afghan frontier following the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul. No group immediately claimed responsibility, though suspicion is likely to fall on factions linked to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks against security forces across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and neighboring tribal regions.

The latest assault highlights the growing security challenges facing Pakistan’s northwest frontier as militant violence continues to escalate. Authorities have launched a major search operation in the region, while national leaders condemned the attack and vowed strong retaliation against those responsible for targeting security personnel and destabilizing the country.