Islamabad: The Bannu military cantonment in Pakistan‘s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday came under massive attack after a group of suicide bombers allegedly stormed inside the cantonment firing indiscriminately at the security personnel. The incident caused the mass killing of people and injuring several others at the site, which is located over 330 km east of Islamabad. Following the attack, the militant group Jaish Fursan-e-Muhammad, a faction of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility.
As per the reports in the Pakistani state media, the assailants, equipped with sophisticated weapons and wearing suicide vests, attempted to breach the cantonment’s security perimeter with an explosive-laden vehicle. They detonated the vehicle at a checkpoint, causing a massive explosion that facilitated their advance into the cantonment.
Lockdown Imposed In The Region After Attack
Multiple explosions were heard in the nearby areas followed by an intense firing. The attackers exploited the ensuing chaos and engaged in a fierce shootout with security forces stationed at the cantonment.
Initial reports indicate that at least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and several more were injured. The government is yet to release the details of casualties. But a spokesperson for the government hospitals in Bannu, Muhammad Numan, told Dawn publication that eight people were left wounded in the attack.
Approximately eight civilians in the vicinity of the cantonment also lost their lives. The exact number of casualties, however, remains unconfirmed.
The Pakistani Army deployed a gunship aircraft to provide aerial support and engage the attackers from above.
Following the attack, the military imposed a lockdown in the region, restricting internet and phone services to prevent the attackers from coordinating further actions or escaping. The ongoing operation aims to secure the area and ensure the safety of both military personnel and civilians.
Jaish Fursan-e-Muhammad, affiliated with the TTP’s Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, has a history of militant activity in the region. It has frequently targeted security forces and government installations.
Pakistan has witnessed a noted increase in terror activities in the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Last week, Islamabad ruled out the possibility of any talks with the TTP.
Meanwhile, the sources confirmed that all the militants were neutralised in the cantonment and a search operation is being carried out to ensure, if any suspect is still alive.
Taliban-Linked Suicide Bombers Storm Pakistani Cantonment, Several Reported Killed world-news World News | Latest International Global World News | Todays Breaking News Headlines
