Pakistani Taliban claim attacks that killed 23 in north-west

Violence hits several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan

Damage following a suspected militant attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. EPA

The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in several north-western districts that killed 20 security officials and three civilians.

The attacks, which included a suicide bombing on a police training school, were carried out on Friday in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan.

It is the latest violence to rock the area, which is the base for several armed groups, and comes as Pakistan struggles with a worsening security situation. Militancy has surged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since the withdrawal of US-led troops from neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021 and the return of the Taliban government in Kabul.

Eleven paramilitary troops were killed in the border Khyber district, while seven policemen were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the gate of a police training school, which was followed by a gun attack. Five people, including three civilians, were killed in a separate clash in Bajaur district, AFP reported citing security officials.

"Seven police personnel were martyred and 13 were injured in the attack, while six terrorists were also killed," Muhammad Hussain, a senior local police official, told AFP.

Five people, including three civilians, were killed in a separate clash between militants and paramilitary troops in Bajaur district, the news agency said.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks in messages on social media. The group is separate to but closely linked with the Afghan Taliban.

The attacks came hours after Afghanistan's Taliban government accused Pakistan of "violating Kabul's sovereign territory", a day after two explosions were heard in the capital.

Pakistan did not say if it was behind the blasts in Kabul but said it had the right to defend itself against surging border militancy.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to expel militants using Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan, an accusation that authorities in Kabul deny.

The Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates are behind most of the violence – largely directed at security forces.

Including Friday's attacks at least 32 Pakistani troops and three civilians have been killed this week alone in the border regions, while dozens of militants were also killed.

The aftermath of a suspected militant attack against a police station in Dera Ismail Khan, one of several assaults in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on October 10, when about 20 security and paramilitary officers were reported to have been killed in the region. All images EPA

According to Muhammed Adnan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, 13 officers were injured and at least three militants were shot dead at a training centre in Dera Ismail Khan

Pakistani security officials inspect the scene following a suspected militants attack against a police station in Dera Ismail Khan. The assault came during a spate of violence against security forces across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan

Seven policemen were killed as a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into the gate of the training school. That was followed by a gun attack. Five people, including three civilians, were killed in a separate clash in Bajaur district. Reports say 11 paramilitary troops were killed in the border Khyber district

A Pakistani security official inspects the scene at Dera Ismail Khan

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks in messages on social media. The group is separate to but closely linked with the Afghan Taliban