At least 12 people have been killed and around 30 others injured in a suicide bombing at a roadside checkpoint in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to police and rescue officials.
The explosion took place on Saturday near Aman Mela in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan. Officials said an explosives-laden vehicle was driven into the checkpoint, causing a powerful blast.
Police said most of those killed and injured were security personnel and people passing through the area. Officers, customs officials and members of the forest department were among those reported killed, while police, customs personnel and civilians were also among the injured.
Rescue 1122 teams reached the scene shortly after the explosion and began emergency operations. The injured were provided medical assistance before being transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The attack occurred at a joint checkpoint used for anti-smuggling operations, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police officials. Police and Counter-Terrorism Department teams secured the area and began collecting evidence as part of the investigation.
The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), later claimed responsibility for the attack, according to reports from international news agencies.
The bombing comes amid heightened security tensions in northwestern Pakistan, particularly in areas close to the Afghan border. Dera Ismail Khan and surrounding districts have experienced repeated attacks targeting security personnel in recent years.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack and are working to establish further details about the perpetrators and the circumstances surrounding the bombing.
The incident has once again highlighted the security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant attacks have continued to affect both security personnel and civilians.