Conflicts & War

1 policeman killed, 2 injured in attack by Pakistani Taliban in Islamabad

Islamabad, Jan 18 (EFE).- A police officer was killed and two others were wounded as two members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) riding on a motorcycle opened fire at a checkpost in Islamabad, according to official sources Tuesday.

Both attackers were also killed in the incident, in what was the first attack by the TTP in the capital in the last six months.

The attack occurred Monday night near a market, when “two terrorists opened fire on a police checkpost,” a local police official Muhammed Azeem told EFE.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid told the media that it was an “act of pure terrorism,” and warned of the possible recurrence of such attacks in the capital, which has caused the security forces to be on alert.

The TTP, or the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement early Tuesday.

“We are proud of our brave men and Mujahidin, following their footsteps, will not hesitate to lay down their lives,” said TTP spokesperson Muhammed Khurasani.

The TTP is an umbrella organization of several tribal groups created in 2007 that seek to impose an Islamic state and is an ally of the Afghan Taliban, to whom they swear allegiance.

Monday’s attack was the first TTP insurgent attack in the capital since June last year, when two other police officers were killed.

This resurgence of TTP activity would be of concern for the Pakistani government, security analyst Amir Rana told EFE.

“Since 2018, 11 policemen have been killed in different attacks in Islamabad out of which some were claimed by TTP. Of course it’s a point of concern for the government as looks like TTP is making a comeback,” said the analyst.

This attack comes after the Pakistan government agreed in November to a one-month ceasefire with the Pakistani Taliban, which broke on Dec.9 when their talks failed.

Since then, the local Taliban have increased terrorist attacks against security forces, mainly in tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. EFE

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