Afghanistan-based terrorist states involved in attack that killed 15 people; Pakistan summons Afghan envoy
PESHAWAR:
Bannu Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Sajjad Khan on Monday submitted a report to the city police office on the terrorist attack on the Fateh Khel police check post last Saturday, stating that the terrorists detonated a vehicle loaded with 1,200 to 1,500 kilograms of explosive material, killing 15 policemen.
Apart from confirming the martyrdom of the 15 police officers and the injuries of three others, the report states that the vehicle was detonated near the checkpoint gate at around 8:30 pm on May 9.
The explosion caused serious damage to the checkpoint building, and the terrorists attempted to storm it in a bid to seize the equipment present inside, he added. The vehicle in question, according to authorities, was a cargo rickshaw.
According to the report, police retaliatory fire prevented the terrorists from entering, and several of the terrorists were killed or injured during the encounter.
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The report further stated that a search operation was launched following the attack. He added that the terrorist group responsible for the attack had been identified, confirming that Afghanistan-based terrorists were also involved in the incident.
In particular, the report maintained that the Fateh Khel checkpoint had been attacked 18 times in the past five months and that all previous attempts had failed as the terrorists fled in the face of retaliatory fire. In this case, however, the attackers were equipped with a significantly larger amount of explosive material, he added.
The death toll rose to 15 on Sunday when the banned group Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan, belonging to the group Fitna al-Khawarijclaimed responsibility for the attack. Police had stated that the terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel checkpoint, triggering a massive explosion, while they also opened fire from multiple directions after the explosion.
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Of the 18 policemen present at the checkpoint at the time of the attack, the police confirmed the identities of the 15 martyrs as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Sohaib, Saadullah, Kamran, Naimatullah, Abid Jani, Imran, Naeemullah, Sadiqullah, Mir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq Dad. The injured were identified as Feroz, Hayatullah and Fidaullah.
Due to the intensity of the explosion, nearby residential buildings and structures suffered extensive damage. Following the incident, an emergency was declared at the three main hospitals in Bannu as security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation. Rapid checks at Bannu entry and exit points were also intensified.
Later, funeral prayers were offered for the martyred police officers with full state honors at Police Lines Bannu.
Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires and issued a “strong representation” over the attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the administration conveyed that a detailed investigation into the incident, along with evidence and technical intelligence, indicated that the attack was planned by terrorists residing in Afghanistan.
“Reiterating Pakistan’s grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, it was made clear to the Afghan side that Pakistan reserves the right to respond decisively against the perpetrators of this barbaric act,” the ministry said.
