Security forces thwarted a second terrorist attack on a Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border checkpoint within a week, police officials said on Saturday.
Around 15 to 20 heavily armed terrorists launched a pre-dawn assault on the Lakhani checkpoint, using rocket launchers and other heavy weapons, according to a Punjab police spokesperson, Express News reported.
The attackers approached the post in small groups from multiple directions but were detected through thermal imaging cameras.
Alert personnel responded immediately with machine guns and mortar fire, forcing the assailants to retreat.
“There are reports of significant militant casualties, though exact figures remain unconfirmed,” the police spokesperson added.
Six days earlier, a similar attack on the same checkpoint was repelled.
The operation was led by Regional Police Officer Dera Ghazi Khan Captain (Retd) Sajjad Hassan Khan, with backup teams from the district police quickly reinforcing the post.
Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar commended the forces for their swift action in preventing the attack. Police have so far successfully repelled 19 similar assaults on border checkpoints.
