12 soldiers among 15 dead in terrorist attack on checkpost in Pakistan

Militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle ‌into a Pakistani security checkpoint, killing 15 people, including ​12 ⁠soldiers, in northwest region of the country, the military said ‌on Friday, adding ‌that 12 militants had been killed in retaliation.

The attack on the post jointly manned by the military ‌and police happened overnight between Thursday and Friday in ⁠the Tank district near the Afghan border, an area that has long served as home to militants.

According to the army's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attackers attempted to breach the security of the joint checkpost but were repelled by security forces, who "swiftly and decisively foiled" the assault. It added troops pursued the fleeing attackers and "displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence," killed 12 terrorists during the ensuing operation.

"Fifteen brave sons of soil including twelve military, two policemen and a government official ex forest department rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom)," the military's media wing said in a statement on the latest attack in the border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

"The attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall," the statement said. "Due to blast impact, infrastructure at checkpost was seriously damage."

Militancy has risen sharply in the northwest Pakistan in recent months.

The army engaged the militants, who after ​failing to breach the security of the checkpoint drove ‌the explosive laden vehicle into its outer wall, the military's statement said.

Local Taliban militants, also known as ⁠Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying four suicide bombers took part in it, according to a statement.

Separately, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Excise officials in Tank and expressed profound grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of Sub-Inspector Sajjad-ul-Islam and Customs Constable Jawad in the incident.

The prime minister, in a statement prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs and for patience and strength for their bereaved families. He also prayed for the swift recovery of the personnel injured in the attack.

The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to identify those responsible for the incident and ensure that they are brought to justice and given exemplary punishment.

"We will continue our fight against the menace of terrorism until it is completely uprooted from the country," the prime minister said.

"We will not allow miscreant elements to undermine the peace of the country under any circumstances," he added.

According to official sources, the attackers opened indiscriminate fire on the vehicle, which later caught fire.

The injured official was shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Rescue 1122 personnel reached the scene, extinguished the blaze and shifted the body and injured official to the hospital.