PAKISTAN – At least 15 people were killed late Monday when a suicide bomber in Pakistan blew up an explosive-laden vehicle, before ramming it at a security checkpoint in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, according to authorities on Tuesday.

Among the dead were a child and 14 security personnel.

In retaliation following the explosion, 12 militants were killed by the Pakistani security forces.

Security forces and police successfully foiled a suicide attack in the Bajaur district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday night, when a militant attempted to target a security checkpoint in the Melange area, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan army’s media wing.

“The assailants sought to breach the check post security; however, their nefarious designs were swiftly and decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of Pakistan’s security forces. Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, our valiant troops engaged the fleeing khwarij with precision, eliminating twelve khwarij,” the ISPR said in a statement.

The Pakistani army refers to militants as “khwarij.”

According to local police, one child was also killed, while eight other civilians – including seven children – were injured in nearby houses.

Separately, four terrorists were killed, and two police officers were injured during an anti-terrorism operation against militants in Pakistan‘s port city of Karachi, the interior minister said on Tuesday.

The Counter-Terrorism Department killed four terrorists during a raid in Karachi’s Shah Latif Town area, Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement, adding that two police officers were injured during the operation.

“I appreciate the police and all security forces for their successful operations against terrorists and their facilitators,” he said.

In recent years, Pakistan has seen an increase in terrorism, with bombings and militant attacks on security personnel, law enforcement, and government installations in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Earlier on Monday, at least three police officers were killed in another operation against militants in the Shangla district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Two militants were also killed during the operation.

Also on Monday, an improvised explosive device exploded in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least two people and injuring 17 others.