15 policemen killed in gun-and-bomb attack in northwest Pakistan

Militants target Bannu checkpoint

At least 15 policemen were killed in a gun-and-bomb attack in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday night when suspected militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a police checkpoint in the restive Bannu district, local media reported on Sunday. The incident occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, where a suicide bomber struck the post before heavily-armed assailants opened fire from multiple directions. Multiple explosions echoed through the area, spreading panic among residents as security forces scrambled to mount a counter operation.

City Police Chief Sajjad Khan told reporters that another three officers sustained injuries in the assault. There was no immediate confirmation of casualties among the attackers, he added.

Sharif orders 'all out' operation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident and directed security forces to go "all out" to bring the culprits to justice, according to a statement from his office. The directive came as authorities assessed the damage at the checkpoint, which sits adjacent to the volatile North Waziristan tribal district.

Violence surges near Afghan border

Bannu has long served as a hotbed of violence, with both civilians and security personnel coming under frequent attack. Pakistan has witnessed a marked surge in militant activity in recent years, mostly attributed to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Islamabad accuses the group of operating from safe havens across the border in Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.

The Saturday night assault represents one of the deadliest single attacks on security forces in the region in recent months. Security operations in the area were ongoing as of Sunday, according to local reports.