A suicide bomber struck near a police checkpost in Pakistan’s Bhakkar district on Tuesday evening, killing two policemen and injuring others, officials said.

District Police Officer Shahzad Rafiq stated that the assailant detonated his explosives near the Dajil checkpost during a security operation to uphold law and order.

Footage circulating on social media shows the attacker, wearing a black shawl, approaching the checkpost moments before triggering the blast.

Two policemen, identified as Muhammad Faheem and Muhammad Shehbaz, lost their lives in the explosion. Another officer, Arshad, was wounded, along with three civilians who were nearby at the time, Dawn reported. All those injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

In a separate militant assault in Kohat city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on the same day, gunmen ambushed a police patrol, killing five officers and burning their vehicle, a police spokesperson told Reuters. Two civilians who were wounded in that incident later died from their injuries.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban) has claimed responsibility for both the Bhakkar and Kohat attacks.

Leaders across the country condemned the violence. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended condolences to the families of the fallen officers, while praying for the recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the government’s determination to eradicate terrorism, stating that the sacrifices of security personnel will not be in vain.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also paid tribute to the slain policemen and instructed authorities to provide the best possible medical care to those hurt in the blast.

Tuesday’s attack came amid heightened tensions following Pakistan’s air strikes inside Afghanistan over the weekend, which Islamabad said targeted militants responsible for a string of recent suicide bombings.

Afghanistan rejected Pakistan’s claims of militant sanctuaries within its borders, maintaining that militancy is Pakistan’s internal issue. Afghan and United Nations officials reported that the strikes killed at least 13 civilians.

The Dajil checkpost is located on the border between Bhakkar and the neighbouring Dera Ismail Khan district.