ISLAMABAD: The Counterterrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) said on Sunday that two militants were killed and several were injured after police repulsed an attack in the country’s volatile northwestern province. 

The attack took place when the CTD Bannu team was shifting a recently arrested “terrorist commander” Usama alias Daniyal alias Baghi to a crime scene to complete the collection of evidence. The CTD said Usama’s accomplices opened fire on the police in Bannu in a bid to rescue him. 

“During the intense gunfight lasting approximately 40 minutes, the in-custody terrorist commander was killed by fire from his own accomplices,” the CTD said.

“The armored CTD vehicle came under fire but all personnel remained safe,” it added. 

Police said another “terrorist” killed during the crossfire was identified as Kamiyab Khan alias Ikhlas Yar. It said Khan was wanted by CTD Bannu for multiple attacks on police and security forces in the past.

The CTD spokesperson said two hand grenades, an AK-47 rifle with two magazines and a mobile phone were obtained from the slain militants. 

“Bloodstains found across the area indicated that fleeing terrorists took their wounded accomplices with them,” the spokesperson said.

“Search-and-strike operations are ongoing to apprehend them.”

The CTD said Usama had earlier confessed during interrogation that he was involved in several crimes, including the assassinations of North Waziristan Assistant Commissioner Shah Wali Khan, former Station House Officer Abid Wazir and three members of the Marwat National Movement group. 

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, however, militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP frequently target security forces, law enforcers and government officials in the region.

Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in KP, which borders Afghanistan, particularly in Bannu. Two security personnel, including an officer, were killed on Saturday after a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden motorbike into a security forces armored vehicle in Bannu’s Sara Darga area, a police official said. 

Earlier this week, Pakistani Taliban militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a checkpoint jointly manned by security forces and law enforcement agencies in the northwestern Bajaur district, killing 11 security personnel among 12 people, the Pakistani military’s media wing said.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil and India of backing militant groups for cross-border attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny this.