Security forces crush terror attack in Bannu

Six terrorists of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militant group were killed on Tuesday as security forces foiled an attack on the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s namesake district, according to the Interior Ministry.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the forces for their swift response. According to officials, two suicide bombers rammed explosive-laden vehicles into the entrance of the cantonment, triggering massive blasts. Other militants then tried to storm the compound but were stopped by security personnel.

The attack caused the roofs of nearby buildings, including a mosque, to collapse. Several worshippers lost their lives, but the exact number of casualties is still being determined. Rescue teams shifted 12 bodies and 30 injured individuals to hospitals.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered an inquiry into the attack, while Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the incident, calling the attackers enemies of humanity. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction of TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan has seen a rise in terror incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan, following the TTP’s ceasefire withdrawal in late 2022. A report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies noted that February saw 79 terrorist attacks, causing 55 civilian and 47 security personnel deaths.

Authorities continue counter-terror operations, having killed 156 terrorists last month. The government has vowed to intensify efforts to combat terrorism, ensuring national security remains a top priority.