A total of 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, were killed as security forces successfully repelled an intrusion attempt at Bannu Cantonment, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday..
The ISPR said that five soldiers were martyred while 13 civilians also died during a terrorist attack on the Bannu Cantonment.
On Wednesday, thousands of people poured on to the streets of Bannu for the funerals of 18 people, including six children, killed in a suicide attack on a security installation.
Muhammad Nauman, a spokesperson for a nearby hospital, said six children were among those killed and 36 others were wounded. Abdullah Khan, a 46-year-old resident of Bannu who runs a livestock business said it was the largest funeral ever seen in the town.
Riaz Wazir, a 46-year-old shopkeeper, who also attended the funeral, said that, in addition to the loss of life, the blasts had caused substantial damage and financial loss. “Buildings that have fallen are destroyed. Those that have not fallen are dangerous because of explosions, any accident can happen,” he said.
A day of mourning was being observed, said Bannu community elder Alam Khan, and joint funeral prayers were held later in the day for the victims at a sports complex in the area.
“All education institutions are closed,” Khan said. “Most shops are also shut.
The ISPR said in a statement that the attack occurred on Tuesday evening when terrorists attempted to breach the high-security zone by ramming two explosives-laden vehicles into the perimeter wall of the Bannu Cantonment.
“Troops engaged the intruders with precision, eliminating all 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers,” the ISPR said and added that in the ensuing firefight, five soldiers embraced martyrdom in the line of duty.
The blast caused significant damage to the perimeter wall, resulting in the partial collapse of nearby structures. A mosque and a residential building were severely affected, leading to the martyrdom of 13 civilians and injuries to 32 others, it added.
The ISPR referred to the attackers as “khwarij elements,” a term used by the government to describe the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.
“Intelligence reports unequivocally confirmed the physical involvement of Afghan nationals in this heinous act,” it said, adding that the attack was “orchestrated and directed by Khawarij ring leaders operating from Afghanistan.”
The ISPR called on the interim Afghan government to take responsibility for preventing its soil from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan. “Islamabad expects the interim Afghan government to uphold its responsibilities and deny its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.”
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to countering terrorism, emphasising that the sacrifices of both security personnel and civilians strengthen the resolve to protect the nation. “Pakistan reserves the right to take necessary measures in response to these threats emanating from across the border.”
The attack has been claimed by an affiliate of the banned Hafiz Gul Bahadur terrorist group, which enjoys sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan.
The group carried out a similar deadly attack on the same garrison last July, detonating an explosive-laden vehicle against the boundary wall.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the terrorist attack and praised the security forces for “sending the attackers to hell,” his office said in a statement. “Such an attack during Iftar in the holy month of Ramadan is a heinous act,” he said, adding that the entire nation rejects such nefarious actions.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also commended the security forces for “sending the terrorists to hell” who attempted to attack the Bannu Cantt. “The cowardly terrorists who targeted innocent civilians during the holy month of Ramadan do not deserve any mercy,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by his office in a statement.
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