In a daring attack during the early hours of Monday, ten terrorists targeted Bannu Cantonment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the martyrdom of eight soldiers, according to a military statement.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the attackers tried to infiltrate the cantonment but were repelled, leading them to detonate an explosive-laden vehicle against the perimeter wall.
The explosion caused a section of the wall to collapse and damaged nearby infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of eight soldiers.
The fallen heroes were identified as Naib Subedar Muhammad Shehzad, Havildar Zil-e-Hussain, Havildar Shahzad Ahmed, Sepoy Ashfaq Hussain Khan, Sepoy Sobhan Majeed, Sepoy Imtiaz Khan, Sepoy Arsalan Aslam of the Pakistan Army, and Lance Naik Sabz Ali of the Frontier Constabulary.
ISPR stated that Pakistani troops effectively engaged the terrorists, resulting in the deaths of all ten attackers during the ensuing operation.
“This timely and effective response by the security forces prevented a major catastrophe, saving precious innocent lives. The gallant and selfless action of the security forces is a testament to their unrelenting resolve in the fight against terrorism,” the statement added.
The attack was attributed to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, which operates from Afghanistan and has previously used Afghan soil to orchestrate acts of terrorism inside Pakistan.
“Pakistan has consistently raised its concerns with the Interim Afghan Government, asking them to deny the persistent use of Afghan soil by terrorists and to take effective action against such elements,” the statement continued.
ISPR emphasized that the Pakistan armed forces will continue to defend the motherland and its people against the menace of terrorism and will take all necessary measures against these threats emanating from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities over the past year, particularly in regions like Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the cessation of a ceasefire between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in November 2022.
Last week, Islamabad reiterated its stance against engaging in talks with the TTP and called for Kabul to take action against terrorists operating from Afghan territory.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies’ annual security report, violence and casualties in Pakistan saw a notable decline in the second quarter of 2024. The report reveals a 12% reduction in overall violence, with 380 fatalities reported compared to 432 in the preceding quarter.
Throughout the second quarter, the country recorded 380 fatalities and 220 injuries from 240 incidents involving terrorist attacks and counter-terror operations. Of these incidents, 236 resulted in fatalities among civilians and security personnel, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining nationwide security.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were identified as the epicenters of violence, accounting for over 90% of fatalities and 84% of all attacks involving both terrorist incidents and security force responses.
