PESHAWAR: A policeman was killed and a Federal Constabulary (FC) paramilitary troop was injured in an attack on a joint checkpost in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, police said on Monday.
A group of militants attacked the joint checkpoint of police and security forces in the mountainous areas of Dara Adam Khel on the outskirts of Kohat district, according to Kohat District Police Officer Dr. Zahidullah Khan. He said swift retaliation by security forces forced the militants to flee, adding that a search operation was underway in the vicinity.
Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in KP in recent years. Militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), frequently target security forces and have been involved in killings and kidnappings of government officials in the region.
“There was an attack by militants on Tor Chappar check post jointly manned by personnel of FC and police,” DPO Khan told Arab News. “During the exchange of fire, one police officer is martyred and one FC official injured.”
The incident underscores the continuing security challenges in the region that borders Afghanistan.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur expressed condolences over the attack and wished the injured troop a speedy recovery.
“We will not leave the family of the martyred officer alone and will provide them with full support,” he said.
In recent months, Islamabad has accused India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation.
On Oct. 3, a civilian was killed and 11 others, including six policemen, were injured in two separate militant attacks in Peshawar and Lakki Marwat districts of KP.
Last month, 12 Pakistani soldiers and 35 militants were killed in clashes along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan in KP.
