Three militants were killed after armed assailants attacked the Police Training School in Dera Ismail Khan, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police officials confirmed.
The attack triggered a swift response from security forces, who engaged the militants in a gun battle. Police said the exact number of attackers remains unclear, and their identities and total strength will be confirmed once the ongoing clearance operation is fully completed.
District Police Officer (DPO) Sajjad Ahmad Sahabzada told local journalists that while three militants had been killed in retaliatory fire, gunfire could still be heard from parts of the area, indicating that some attackers may still be at large.
The exchange of fire also resulted in injuries to two police personnel, according to police sources. Authorities confirmed that the entire area surrounding the police training facility had been cordoned off and a comprehensive search and clearance operation was underway. Security forces have reportedly cleared around 90 percent of the area so far.
The Police Training School, recently targeted by militants, was established earlier this year in Dera Ismail Khan following the efforts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The facility, inaugurated in January, is designed to provide basic training to new police recruits and strengthen law enforcement capacity in the region.
The law enforcement agencies are facing worst security challenges in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region that has witnessed a resurgence of militant activity in recent months.
Authorities have assured that all necessary measures are being taken to secure the area and prevent further incidents. The security forces are on high alert to counter potential threats and safeguard law enforcement personnel and critical infrastructure.
