The attacks included a suicide bombing at a police training school, which sparked an hours long firefight. Islamabad has vowed a tough response to those backing the militant group — a threat aimed at the Taliban in Kabul.
Mourners stand by the coffins of slain police officials during a funeral ceremony at Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on October 11, 2025
A funeral for some of the police trainees was held on Saturday
The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in several areas in northwestern Pakistan that killed 20 security officials and three civilians.
The attacks, which included a suicide bombing on a police training school, were carried out on Friday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders AfghanistaThe province is home to several armed groups, which have ramped up attacks on security forces since the return of the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021.
What do we know?
The AFP news agency reported that 11 paramilitary troops were killed in an attack in the border Khyber district. Local media reported that the attack took place on Wednesday.
A senior local police official in Khyber told AFP that seven policemen were killed and 13 were injured on Friday night when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the gate of a police training school.
The facility is based in Ratta Kulachi, on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan city.
Police said the attackers used heavy weapons and tried to force their way into the compound following the suicide bombing.
“After the initial blast, the attackers managed to storm the facility, where about 200 recruits and their trainers were present,” Dera Ismail Khan police chief Sajjad Ahmad told The Associated Press.
The attack triggered a fierce firefight that lasted for nearly six hours, officials said.
Police and paramilitary units later cleared the compound, killing six militants and recovering suicide vests, explosives, weapons and ammunition, the statement added.
Meanwhile, in Bajaur district, five people, including three civilians, were killed in a separate clash between militants and paramilitary troops, security officials said.
