18 Killed in Northwest Pakistan Clash as Troops Thwart Militant Attack

At least 18 people were killed in a violent clash between security forces and suspected militants in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

The incident involved a suicide bombing and an armed assault on a military cantonment area in Bannu district.

Military officials reported that a group of militants attacked the cantonment early Monday morning. Security forces repelled the initial assault, forcing the attackers to detonate a suicide vest at the perimeter wall. The blast caused significant damage and resulted in the deaths of eight soldiers.

Following the explosion, a fierce gun battle ensued. Troops successfully eliminated all ten suspected militants.

The Pakistani military blames the attack on the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a faction of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). They allege the group uses Afghanistan as a safe haven to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The statement further highlights Pakistan’s ongoing concerns raised with the Afghan government regarding the use of their territory by militant groups.

These accusations are contested by Kabul, which denies providing any support to militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan.