Three policemen martyred in Khyber Agency terrorist attack

• Three policemen martyred in "suicide" attack on police check-post.
• Heavy contingent of police dispatched to the check-post.
• Sacrifices of the martyrs will not go in vain, says KP CM.

KHYBER: In the latest strike on law enforcers, at least three policemen were martyred in a terrorist attack on a police check-post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Khyber Agency Thursday.

The area's police said terrorists opened fire on the check-post in Tekhta Beg and used explosive material in the attack, after which the police station caught fire. The exchange of fire between the police force and terrorists is still underway.

Immediately after the attack, the traffic on the Pak-Afghan Highway was shut down and a heavy contingent of police was dispatched to the check-post.

Talking to journalists, Jamrud SHO Shah Khalid termed the storm on the police check-post a suicide attack. "The suicide bomber entered the check-post and blew himself up."

The SHO added that the police opened fire on the target upon seeing the suicide bomber.

Two policemen — Manzoor Shah and Younis Khan — were martyred in the attack, while a cook in the check-post, identified as Rafiq, was shifted to the Peshawar hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Taking notice of the attack, KP Chief Minister Mehmood Khan’s has asked the IG Police for a report on the incident.

“The incident is very sad, the sacrifices of the martyrs will not go in vain,” the CM said.

The development comes as Pakistan tackles rising terror attacks — especially by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and from across the Afghan border.

According to reports, the TTP regrouped in Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover, with Pakistan repeatedly asking the interim government in the neighbouring country to ensure that its soil isn't used for terrorism. But the Taliban-led government has not been able to live up to the expectations.

The activities of militants have been mainly focused in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the former accounting for 31% of the attacks during the last year and the latter 67%, according to statistics provided by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Just last week, three police personnel, including an officer, also embraced martyrdom during an exchange of gunfire with terrorists who launched an overnight assault at a police station in Peshawar.

The terrorists attacked the Sarband Police Station located in the city's suburban area with hand grenades in the dark of night, leaving Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Badaber Sardar Hussain and his two guards martyred.

As the country continues to face cross-border terrorism, Pakistan earlier in the day called upon the Iranian authorities to investigate the cross-border terror attack in the Panjgur district of Balochistan and bring the perpetrators to task.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, four security personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack carried out from "Iranian soil" on Wednesday.

As the country continues to face cross-border terrorism, Pakistan earlier in the day called upon the Iranian authorities to investigate the cross-border terror attack in the Panjgur district of Balochistan and bring the perpetrators to task.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, four security personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack carried out from "Iranian soil" on Wednesday.