Attack on Pakistani police station kills scores of officers

By Linda Bordoni

The deadly attack, which included a shootout between the military and six militants, targeted Daraban police station in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The province, which borders Afghanistan, is a former stronghold of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.

The newly formed militant group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP - believed to be an offshoot of the TTP -claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

Local police confirmed all six attackers were also dead while the death toll is likely to rise as some of the wounded officers were reportedly in critical condition.

The attack — one of the deadliest the country has seen in recent months — damaged businesses and shops, shattering windows.

Anti-terrorism operations

A senior police official said a large number of security forces from across the country have had a constant presence lately at the police station, where they were conducting intelligence-based operations against militants in the area with help from local police.

Pakistani President, Arif Alvi, denounced the attack and conveyed his condolences to the families saying “their sacrifices would not go to waste” and that such attacks cannot weaken the resolve of security forces.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has witnessed a rise in violence with several deadly incursions by militants this year revendicated by the Pakistani Taliban.

Authorities say the TTP insurgents- although a separate group - have become emboldened while living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover there. (Source AP)