PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A deadly militant assault on a police training centre in northwestern Pakistan left at least seven officers dead and 13 wounded, in one of the most violent attacks to hit the region this year.
The attack unfolded late Friday night when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden truck at the gate of the training facility in Ratta Kulachi, on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan. The powerful blast destroyed part of the boundary wall, killing a police officer on duty and allowing armed militants in uniform to storm the compound, where about 200 recruits and trainers were present.
According to police chief Sajjad Ahmad, the assault involved heavy weapons, grenades, and automatic gunfire, leading to an intense six-hour gun battle between the attackers and security forces.
Police and paramilitary units eventually cleared the compound, killing six militants and seizing suicide vests, explosives, and ammunition. Officials said the attackers had intended to cause mass casualties but were repelled by quick police action.
The banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) initially claimed responsibility before issuing a second statement denying involvement. The TTP is affiliated with the Afghan Taliban but operates separately within Pakistan.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the fallen officers for their bravery, calling their response a “sacrifice in the line of duty.”
Pakistan has been grappling with a sharp resurgence in militant violence since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.
The army’s spokesperson, Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, said Friday that security forces have carried out more than 10,000 counterterrorism operations this year alone, killing 970 militants. He acknowledged, however, that the threat has intensified, with dozens of soldiers and police officers killed in 2025.
The Dera Ismail Khan assault underscores the mounting security challenges facing Pakistan as militants increasingly target law enforcement to destabilize the region.