Terrorist Attack in Northwest Pakistan Leaves 5 Troops, 13 Civilians Dead

A terrorist attack in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has resulted in the deaths of at least five army personnel and 13 civilians, Anadolu Agency reported. The incident occurred when a group of 16 heavily-armed militants attempted to breach the cantonment area on Tuesday evening, using two explosive-laden vehicles to ram the perimeter wall after being intercepted by security forces.

In a statement, the military reported that all 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, were eliminated during the ensuing firefight, which lasted until Wednesday morning. The attack caused the partial collapse of the perimeter wall, damaging a nearby mosque and residential building, injuring 32 others.

The Pakistani Taliban’s Hafiz Gulbahadur group claimed responsibility for the assault. Intelligence reports indicate that Afghan nationals were involved, prompting Pakistan to urge the interim Afghan government to prevent its territory from being used for such attacks. The military reaffirmed its commitment to combating terrorism.