In response to a terrorist attack against Bannu’s cliff in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, security forces eliminated 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, while five soldiers were martyred, the military wing on Wednesday said Wednesday.
According to Public Relations between Services (ISPR), the attack occurred on Tuesday night when terrorists tried to violate the high security zone by ramming two vehicles loaded with explosives on the perimeter wall of the Bannu Acantonation.
The ISPR declared: “The troops hired intruders precisely, eliminating the 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers.”
In the posterior shooting, five soldiers hugged martyrdom in the fulfillment of duty, according to the ISPR.
The explosion caused significant damage to the perimeter wall, which resulted in the partial collapse of nearby structures. A mosque and a residential building were seriously affected, which led to the martyrdom of 13 civilians and injuries to another 32, he added.
The ISPR referred to the attackers as “Khwarij elements”, a term used by the government to describe the Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.
ISPR also declared, “intelligence reports unequivocally confirmed the physical participation of Afghan nationals in this atrocious act,” added that the attack was “orchestrated and directed by Khwarij Ring leaders who operate from Afghanistan.”
The ISPR also asked the interim Afghan government to assume the responsibility of preventing its soil from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
“Islamabad expects the interim Afghan government to defend its responsibilities and deny its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.”
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to counteract terrorism, emphasizing that the sacrifices of both security personnel and civilians strengthen the resolution to protect the nation.
He also declared: “Pakistan reserves the right to take the necessary measures in response to these threats that emanate from the other side of the border.”
The attack has been claimed by an affiliate from the Hafiz Gul Bahadur terrorist group, who enjoys the sanctuaries through the border in Afghanistan. The group carried out a similar deadly attack against the same garrison last July, detonating a vehicle loaded with explosives against the limit wall.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the terrorist attack and praised the security forces for “sending the attackers to hell,” said his office in a statement. “Such attack during Iphtar in the Sacred month of Ramazan is an atrocious act,” he said, adding that the entire nation rejects such dire actions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces for “sending terrorists to hell” who tried to attack Bannu Cantt. “The cowardly terrorists who attacked innocent civilians during the sacred month of Ramazan do not deserve mercy,” said Prime Minister, said his office in a statement.
