11 policemen martyred in Hangu attack as militants are killed

The deadly attack took place overnight in Hangu district, where heavily armed militants targeted the Khazina police post. Security forces quickly moved to the area and a fierce gunbattle followed.

The latest reports say 11 police personnel were killed in the attack and subsequent fighting. Among those who died was senior police officer Diyar Khan, who had led reinforcements towards the attacked post.

The confrontation shows the serious security challenges still facing police and other security personnel in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

How the Hangu attack unfolded

According to police officials cited by The Associated Press, militants attacked the police post using heavy weapons. Reinforcement teams were sent towards the location after the initial assault.

However, the reinforcements were reportedly ambushed while travelling to the area. The attack damaged an armoured personnel carrier, after which police personnel fought back against the attackers.

The exchange of fire continued for about an hour, according to police officials. Security forces eventually killed 15 militants during the confrontation, while more than two dozen police officers were wounded.

The number of militants killed differs from the figure in the supplied report, which stated that eight militants were killed and six injured. The latest Associated Press report gives the death toll among attackers as 15, so the updated figure has been used here.

The loss of 11 police officers makes the attack one of the more serious recent incidents involving law enforcement personnel in the area.

DSP Diyar Khan among those killed

DSP Diyar Khan was among the police officers killed during the attack. Police said he was leading reinforcements when the militants attacked the responding team.

His death has added to the impact of the incident because he was involved in the effort to reach the police post after the assault began.

More than two dozen police personnel were also injured during the attack and the fighting that followed. The injured officers were taken for medical treatment as authorities continued security operations in the area.

The attack has once again highlighted the risks faced by police officers working in remote and sensitive parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Earlier security operation in Hangu

The latest attack comes after an earlier major security operation in Hangu involving police, the Counter Terrorism Department and other security forces.

According to a report published in May, officials said security forces had stopped an infiltration attempt involving more than 100 militants in Hangu district. The reported operation covered areas including Zargari, Shinawari and Naryab.

Officials said the militants had attempted to move into the area from mountainous parts of neighbouring Orakzai district. Police, CTD personnel, Frontier Corps and the Pakistan Army were involved in efforts to stop the advance.

The fighting in that earlier operation continued for several days, according to officials. Six civilians were reported killed and 13 others injured after mortar shells fired by militants landed in residential areas.

That earlier operation showed how security threats in Hangu can quickly affect both security personnel and local residents.

No group immediately claims responsibility

No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attack, according to the latest available reporting. Authorities have not publicly established responsibility for the assault.

The Associated Press reported that suspicion could fall on the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, because of its continued attacks against Pakistani security forces in the region. However, this remains an assessment and not a confirmed claim of responsibility.

The TTP has been blamed for many militant attacks in Pakistan in recent years. Islamabad has also repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of allowing TTP militants to operate from Afghan territory, an allegation Kabul has denied.

The latest incident is therefore likely to add to existing concerns about militant activity along Pakistan’s northwestern frontier.

Search operation continues

Following the attack, additional security personnel were deployed around the affected area. Authorities also began search and clearance activities to check for possible militants and secure nearby locations.

The immediate focus is expected to remain on identifying any attackers who may have escaped and preventing another assault on police positions.

The incident also places renewed attention on the security of police checkpoints and the risks faced by reinforcement teams responding to attacks.

Hangu is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province that has experienced repeated militant violence. Its proximity to the former tribal areas and the Afghan border region has made security operations particularly challenging.

Also Read: 32 terrorists killed as security forces target militant networks: ISPR

The latest Hangu attack is significant because militants were able to launch a heavily armed assault against a police position and then ambush reinforcements sent to help.

The deaths of 11 police officers also show the high human cost of responding to militant violence. The injury of more than two dozen additional officers means the impact of the attack extends well beyond those killed.

For security authorities, the incident may lead to renewed reviews of checkpoint protection, reinforcement routes and response plans.

For residents, the attack is another reminder that militant violence remains a serious concern in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.