The attack occurred in the Mianwali district of Punjab province and led to an intense exchange of fire as reinforcements arrived at the besieged police post, AP reported citing the spokesman for the counterterrorism police Imran Nawaz.

A group of 10 to 12 militants attacked the Kundal police post in the Easa Khel area of Mianwali, close to the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, after midnight, Nawaz said.

The exchange of gunfire continued for hours during which two of the attackers were killed and a third was injured but escaped with others, Nawaz said, adding that the search operation was underway in the area to find the attackers.

Mohammad Khurasani, a spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack.

AMK/PR