Web Desk: Security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province thwarted a major terrorist assault on a Federal Constabulary checkpoint in the Hassan Khel area on Monday, killing eight attackers in a heavy exchange of fire, security officials said.
The attack took place in a sensitive border region on the outskirts of Peshawar, where terrorists attempted to overrun a strategically important post.
According to security sources, heavily armed terrorists launched a coordinated attack on the checkpoint, surrounding it from multiple directions and opening indiscriminate fire in an attempt to seize control of the facility.
The group targeted the Federal Constabulary post in what officials described as a planned effort to establish a foothold in the area and generate propaganda through visuals of the takeover.
However, personnel stationed at the post responded immediately, engaging the attackers in sustained combat and preventing them from breaching the installation.
Security officials said frontline personnel from the Federal Constabulary and police units mounted a strong counterattack under intense fire.
As the confrontation escalated, eight terrorists were killed on the spot, forcing the remaining attackers to retreat.
The responding personnel for what they described as exceptional resistance that prevented the loss of the strategic position.
Following the initial assault, Pakistan Army units and additional security forces rushed to the scene, deploying armoured vehicles and aerial support to stabilise the situation.
Authorities said the entire area was cordoned off and a large-scale search and clearance operation was launched to track down any fleeing terrorists.
Six police personnel were martyred during the exchange of fire, while several others were reported missing in the aftermath of the attack. Search and rescue teams continued operations to locate any unaccounted personnel.
Security forces described the fallen officers as having “laid down their lives in the line of duty” during the intense fighting.
Hassan Khel lies in a geopolitically sensitive corridor between Pakistan’s tribal districts and settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, making it a frequent focus of terrorist activity.
Officials said terrorist groups have repeatedly targeted remote security posts in the region in an effort to seize installations for propaganda purposes.
Authorities said such attacks have intensified in recent months despite ongoing intelligence-based operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks.
Security forces said clearance operations were still underway in the area as they worked to eliminate any remaining threats and secure surrounding routes.
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