BANNU: Police killed four terrrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij after foiling a midnight assault on the Kanger Pul police checkpost in Bannu, launching a swift counterterrorism operation that forced the attackers to retreat.
Armed with modern weapons, the Khawarij launched the attack around midnight. However, alert police personnel immediately returned fire, repelled the assault and prevented the attackers from overrunning the checkpost.
Police reinforcements, including personnel from the Quick Response Force (QRF) and Rapid Response Force (RRF), rushed to the scene. Security teams subsequently launched a search and clearance operation to track down the fleeing assailants.
During the operation, police killed four Khawarij and recovered their bodies along with weapons, ammunition, hand grenades and other equipment. Authorities are working to establish the identities of those killed.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed praised Bannu police for their swift response, saying the personnel had successfully repelled the attack despite the darkness.
He said their response reflected professional training, courage and operational readiness. He also vowed that militants would not be allowed to establish a foothold in the province.
Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for thwarting the assault and killing four militants.
He praised their professionalism and determination, saying the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and CTD personnel had demonstrated courage in defending the checkpost. He also paid tribute to their efforts to restore and maintain peace in the province.
Bannu Faces Persistent Khawarij Threat
The latest attack comes amid a sustained surge in Khawarij violence across southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police stations, security installations and checkposts have repeatedly come under attack.
Bannu has remained one of the province’s major security hotspots. On May 9, 2026, a suicide vehicle bombing followed by an armed assault on the Fateh Khel police post killed 15 police personnel and wounded four others, according to official figures reported by Dawn.
Police personnel have also faced targeted killings and repeated attacks on checkposts. In June, two police constables were killed in separate targeted attacks in Bannu, underscoring the persistent threat to law enforcement personnel in the district.
Cross-Border Militancy Fuels Security Concerns
The security situation has also been aggravated by concerns over militant sanctuaries across the Afghan border and attempts to infiltrate Pakistani territory.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in May 2026 that its investigation into the Fateh Khel attack, supported by technical intelligence and other evidence, indicated that the assault had been planned by militants operating from Afghanistan. Islamabad subsequently summoned the Afghan Taliban regime’s chargé d’affaires and lodged a formal protest.
In September, Pakistani security sources reported that troops had thwarted an attempted militant infiltration into Kurram from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktia provinces. The sources also reported subsequent firing by Afghan Taliban forces on Pakistani border posts.
Also Read: Major Blow to Fitna al Khawarij: 43 Killed in Mir Ali and Orakzai Operations
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent their territory from being used by militant groups to launch attacks against Pakistan. Kabul has denied providing safe havens to the Pakistani Taliban.
The latest operation in Bannu underscores the continuing pressure on police and security forces as they confront militant attacks, targeted killings and cross-border infiltration threats.
