DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Ten terrorists were killed as security forces thwarted an attack at a checkpoint in Jandola area of Tank district, Dawn.com reported while quoting the military`s media wing.

According to the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), the attack took place on the border of South Waziristan and Tank districts.

The ISPR statement added that the terrorists attempted to breach the checkpoint but the attack was`effectivelythwarted` by troops, forcing the terrorists to ram an explosiveladen vehicle into the perimeter wall.

The security forces `fought bravely, effectively engaged the assailants and after an intense fire exchange`, all 10 terrorists, including a suicide bomber, were killed outside the checkpoint.

According to ISPR, a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.

Earlier, security officials and sources told Dawn that terrorists had attacked a Frontier Corps (FC) Fort at around 3:45pm.

Soldiers posted inside the checkpoint opened fire at a suspected vehicle moving towards the building, according to security officials.

`After the initial explosion, the exchange of fire ensued,` sources said, adding the exchange of fire was followed by a suicide attack outside the southern gate of the fort, sources said.

They claimed that three security personnel were injured during the attack. The claim was not confirmed by the ISPR.

The injured soldiers were moved to a hospital, where they were said to be in stable condition.

Sources said intermittent gunfire continued after the attack, with gunship helicopters patrolling the area.

No statement has been issued by the military`s media wing till the filing of this report.

Minister of Interior Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to security forces for repelling the attack.

`I salute the security forces for foiling the attack,` he said and commended them for bringing 10 terrorists to `an exemplary end`.

Muhammad Irfan Mughal in Dera Ismail Khan also contributed to this report