PESHAWAR—The Bannu suicide bombings and militant attack killed 18 people, including five security personnel, in a high-security military zone in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday evening.
The coordinated assault, which involved two suicide bombings, also left 32 civilians wounded. The Inter-Services Public Relations (Military Media Wing) stated that 16 militants stormed Bannu cantonment, triggering a fierce gunfight with security forces.
All assailants, including four suicide bombers, were killed in the operation. The attack caused significant destruction, with militants ramming two explosive-laden vehicles into the cantonment’s perimeter wall, partially destroying it.
Authorities confirmed that the explosions severely damaged a nearby mosque and a residential building.
Among the civilian casualties were six members of the same family. The imam of the mosque, who was critically injured, died on Wednesday, raising the death toll. While the military has not disclosed its own casualties, official sources said 19 security personnel sustained injuries in the assault.
The military blamed Afghanistan-based militants for orchestrating the suicide bombings and militant attack, alleging that Afghan nationals were directly involved.
Intelligence reports indicated that the attackers received instructions from across the border. The military urged the Taliban-led Afghan government to prevent its territory from being used for cross-border terrorism and warned that Pakistan reserves the right to respond to such threats.
A little-known militant group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of sheltering Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out numerous deadly attacks in the country. Islamabad has repeatedly called for action against TTP hideouts, but the Taliban government rejects these claims, insisting that Pakistan’s security issues are domestic.
Following the attack, authorities sealed off Bannu cantonment, restricting entry and exit. A mass funeral for the victims was held at Bannu Sports Complex.
