In a major operation following a terrorist attack on the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, security forces eliminated 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, according to the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening, claimed the lives of five soldiers who were martyred while defending the high-security zone.
The terrorists attempted to breach the cantonment by ramming explosives-laden vehicles into the perimeter wall, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire. Troops swiftly neutralized all intruders, with ISPR confirming the elimination of the attackers. The blast caused significant damage to nearby structures, including a mosque and residential buildings, resulting in the martyrdom of 13 civilians and injuring 32 others.
The ISPR identified the attackers as affiliates of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and intelligence confirmed the involvement of Afghan nationals in orchestrating the assault. Pakistan has called on the interim Afghan government to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities against the country.
Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, praising the swift response of the security forces and emphasizing the nation’s united rejection of such heinous acts.
