Fifteen people were martyred after India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij militants attacked a joint police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district during the night of July 23 and 24, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attackers attempted to breach the security perimeter of the joint checkpost, but security forces responded swiftly and thwarted the assault.

The ISPR said troops pursued the fleeing militants and killed 12 Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists during the operation.

The ISPR said the attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer protective wall of the checkpost, triggering a massive blast that severely damaged the facility and caused part of the structure to collapse.

The explosion resulted in the martyrdom of 15 people, including 12 members of the security forces, two police officials and one forest department officer, the ISPR said.

A clearance and sanitisation operation is underway in the area to eliminate any remaining Fitna al-Khawarij militants, according to the military.

The ISPR said security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eradicating the menace of India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij and defeating foreign-sponsored terrorism.

It added that the sacrifices of the martyred personnel had further strengthened the nation’s resolve to safeguard Pakistan’s security.

The military said operations under Azm-e-Istehkam would continue until terrorism was eliminated.