BANNU, Pakistan — Six Pakistani soldiers were martyred and five militants killed Tuesday when security forces repelled a brazen assault on the Federal Constabulary (FC) Headquarters in Bannu, a restive district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that has seen a surge in terrorist violence, reported by Dawn News.
The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said heavily armed militants attempted to storm the compound before dawn, detonating a vehicle laden with explosives against the perimeter wall. The blast ripped through the barrier, damaged nearby civilian buildings, and injured three civilians.
Troops responded with what ISPR described as “unwavering courage and professional excellence,” engaging the attackers in a fierce firefight that lasted several hours. All five assailants — identified as members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which authorities call Fitna-al-Khawarij — were killed.
Despite the successful defense, six soldiers from the FC and Pakistan Army fell in battle. Police later reported that five officers were wounded during the joint clearance operation led by Bannu District Police Officer Saleem Abbas. By afternoon, security forces declared the area secure.
The attack comes amid mounting debate over Pakistan’s renewed military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire with the TTP in late 2022. Critics argue that operations risk fueling local resentment, while the military insists they are essential to dismantling militant sanctuaries.
Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed told reporters the swift coordination between police, army, and FC units prevented what could have been a far deadlier assault. “Four attackers were neutralized within the first hour, and the last was eliminated in follow-up sweeps,” he said.
Bannu and surrounding districts — including Peshawar, Karak, and Bajaur — have endured repeated militant strikes in recent months, often targeting police. Attacks have ranged from roadside ambushes to drone strikes on police stations.
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies reported a 74 percent increase in militant attacks nationwide in August alone, calling it the deadliest month in more than a decade.
For now, Bannu mourns its dead as the government vows to press forward. ISPR pledged that the “sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent civilians” will only deepen Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate terrorism “at all costs.”
