The Hangu checkpoint attack left eight police personnel and eight militants dead after armed attackers targeted the Khazina Banda police post in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Police launched a clearance operation as injured officers received hospital treatment.
Hangu Police Deaths Confirmed After Gunfight
Eight police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were killed after militants attacked the Khazina Banda checkpoint in Hangu district late on Tuesday, July 28, according to statements attributed to local police officials.
Initial accounts reported seven police deaths, but an updated police count placed the toll at eight. The conflicting early figures underline how casualty numbers can change during an active security operation. Police identified the senior officer killed in the assault as DSP Diyar Khan, while District Police Officer Mujahid Hussain provided operational details. Earlier reports had incorrectly described Mujahid Hussain as the DSP who was injured.
The attackers reportedly opened fire on personnel stationed at the checkpoint, triggering an intense exchange. Police returned fire and prevented the militants from taking control of the post. Eight attackers were killed during the gunfight, according to the police account.
KP Militant Attack Leaves 22 Officers Injured
At least 22 police personnel suffered injuries during the KP militant attack. Authorities moved the wounded officers to a nearby medical facility, although officials had not immediately released detailed information about their conditions.
Security teams cordoned off the surrounding area after the clash. Additional forces were sent to reinforce local police and search routes that the surviving attackers may have used to escape.
Police said six militants were also injured. No independently verified casualty figures for the armed group were immediately available, and authorities had not publicly identified those killed.
Police Clearance Operation Continues in Hangu
The police clearance operation continued after the main exchange of fire ended. Security personnel searched nearby settlements, roads and mountainous areas for militants who may have fled the scene.
Officials said the operation aimed to secure the checkpoint, recover evidence and prevent another assault. The authorities did not immediately disclose whether any suspects had been arrested or whether weapons and explosives were recovered.
No organisation had claimed responsibility for the Hangu police checkpoint attack at the time of the initial reports. Authorities had also not officially named the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as the group responsible. Any connection to the TTP therefore remains unconfirmed unless investigators or the organisation issue a formal statement.
Pakistan Security Crisis Deepens
The attack adds to the continuing Pakistan security crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police posts, military facilities and government personnel have faced repeated militant assaults.
It followed another deadly attack in Tank district, where militants reportedly used an explosives-laden vehicle against a security post. Fifteen people, including security and government personnel, were reported killed in that incident. Pakistan’s military later said its forces killed 12 militants during the response.
Pakistan’s military separately announced that security forces had killed 32 militants in intelligence-based operations across northwestern and southwestern regions during the previous 24 hours. The military described the actions as part of continuing counterterrorism efforts.
The Hangu assault highlights the pressure facing police officers stationed at exposed checkpoints. Authorities are expected to investigate how the attackers approached the post, whether they received local assistance and whether stronger surveillance and protective barriers could have reduced the casualties.
