Dera Ismail Khan: 15 security personnel killed in terrorist attack on Tank road post
On the night of July 24, 2026, terrorists attacked a joint security check post on the road connecting Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, killing fifteen people. Twelve were military personnel, two were police officers, and one was a Forest Department official. Pakistan's military attributed the attack to the Fitna al Khwarij group and reported that security forces killed twelve of the attackers in pursuit operations. Counter-terrorism activity in and around DI Khan continued throughout July, with separate operations in the city and across KPK resulting in further militant deaths.
15 Killed in Terrorist Attack on Tank-Dera Ismail Khan Road Check Post
At least fifteen security and government personnel were killed when terrorists attacked a joint police check post in Tank district late on Thursday, July 24, 2026, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. The attack occurred at the Manji Khel check post on the Tank–Dera Ismail Khan road. ISPR said the attackers, described as belonging to an Indian-sponsored militant organisation, attempted to breach the post and were repelled. Security forces then pursued the fleeing attackers and killed twelve of them. In a second phase, the attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the check post, causing a powerful blast that severely damaged the facility. Those killed included twelve military personnel, two police officers, and one official from the Forest Department. A sanitisation operation was under way to clear any remaining militants from the area. ISPR said operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam counter-terrorism framework would continue, and that the sacrifices of those killed reinforced the country's commitment to national security. Over a dozen others were reported injured in the attack. [1]
Counter Terrorism Department Kills Wanted Militant in DI Khan Operation
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter Terrorism Department conducted an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan on July 18, 2026, resulting in the killing of a wanted terrorist, according to a Dawn report published that day. The CTD is the provincial law enforcement body responsible for targeted anti-militant operations in KPK. Intelligence-based operations typically involve pre-planned raids on confirmed militant locations based on surveillance and informant intelligence. DI Khan's proximity to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas and South Waziristan has historically made the city a site of recurring security operations. The July 18 CTD operation was one of several counter-terrorism actions carried out in KPK in the week leading up to the larger Tank road attack on July 24. Pakistan's security forces have carried out a sustained campaign under the Azm-e-Istehkam initiative, which coordinates provincial CTD, police, and army operations with the goal of dismantling militant infrastructure across the province. The operation was confirmed by the CTD in statements reported by Dawn. [4]
🗳️ Governor Proposes KPPSC Regional Offices to Improve Civil Service Access in DI Khan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi formally wrote to Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi in July 2026 proposing the establishment of regional offices of the KPK Public Service Commission in Dera Ismail Khan, Malakand, and Hazara divisions. The governor noted that candidates from the southern, northern, and other peripheral divisions face serious difficulties travelling to Peshawar to participate in KPPSC examinations and administrative processes. Regional offices would allow civil service testing and recruitment to take place closer to where applicants live. DI Khan is located in KPK's southern zone, geographically far from the provincial capital Peshawar, and residents have long experienced limited access to centrally administered government services. The proposal was framed as addressing a regional equity concern affecting thousands of graduates and young professionals in DI Khan and neighbouring areas who seek government employment. The report, published in The News on July 21, 2026, did not indicate whether the chief minister had yet responded to the governor's letter. [5]
Five Militants Killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Operations on July 19
Dawn reported on July 19, 2026 that five terrorists were killed during Pakistan Army operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The security operations were conducted under the army's auspices and formed part of ongoing efforts to eliminate militant presence in the province. KPK has been the site of frequent counter-terrorism activity in recent years, with operations targeting militant groups in the province's southern belt including the areas surrounding Dera Ismail Khan. The July 19 report came one day after the CTD operation in DI Khan city and five days before the larger Tank road attack on July 24, illustrating the density of security activity in the DI Khan–Tank corridor during that week. Pakistan's military has carried out a sequence of intelligence-based operations, sweep operations, and checkpoint actions under the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, which coordinates operations across provincial and federal security agencies with the stated objective of removing militant infrastructure that has operated from the former tribal belt areas bordering DI Khan district. [8]
Sources: [1] The Express Tribune · [4] Dawn · [5] The News Pakistan · [8] Dawn