ISTANBUL
Four policemen were killed, and a deputy superintendent was injured during a militant attack in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack in the Dera Ismail Khan district, according to a statement.
He expressed condolences for the loss of life and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The attack occurred as a police unit was returning from a search operation launched after intelligence reports were received about the presence of militants in the area, the Dawn newspaper reported, citing a police statement.
The area had been cordoned off before the operation began, according to the statement.
Militants hiding in nearby forests opened fire on the police unit, prompting officers to retaliate.
Media reports said authorities were making efforts to recover the bodies of the slain militants. But it was not clear whether and how many attackers were neutralized