A group of Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed rebels attacked the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late on Tuesday evening, according to reports, as security forces retaliated to foil the attempt. One agency report said that at least nine people died and 35 were injured in twin blasts and exchange of firing that followed.
News outlet Khorasan Diary put out a post on X which showed two plumes of smoke in the air while gunfire from automatic weapons could be heard in the background. There were loud blasts but it is not clear as of now as to how many casualties have been there. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has not spoken about the incident so far, according to Dawn.
“Suicide bombers rammed two explosives-laden vehicles into the entrance gate of Bannu Cantonment, triggering massive explosions … after which multiple terrorists attempted to storm the compound,” an unnamed senior district police official was quoted as saying. “Security forces present at the scene engaged them in a gunfight.’’
(It bears mention here that in July last year, TTP men of the Gul Bahadur group had rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the compound wall of the Bannu Cantonment. In that incident, eight soldiers were killed.)
Numan Khattab, spokesperson for the District Headquarters Hospital, said those injured in the incident were brought to the hospital for treatment.
According to a telecast by Samaa TV, at least six TTP cadres (officially called Fitna e Khwarij) were killed in action by the security forces. Its report said that the alert personnel of the cantonment foiled attempt by TTP men to storm inside. However, it did not say anything about the casualties on the side of the security forces.
https://twitter.com/khorasandiary/status/1896920494013853802
A statement by the office of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned what it said was a “blast” in Bannu district. It said the chief minister expressed grief over the incident and sought a report from senior police officials. The statement added that the chief minister was also saddened by the loss of life in the incident without specifying the nature of the attack or casualties.
CM Gandapur directed the district administration to ensure timely medical assistance to the injured. “Such incidents in the holy month of Ramazan are highly condemnable and unfortunate,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Last year in July 2024, a terrorist attack targeting Bannu Cantonment had led t0 deaths of eight soldiers while in a retaliatory operation, 10 attackers were killed. The attack was carried out by the Afghanistan-based proscribed Hafiz Gul Bahadur group.
Pakistan has witnessed a substantial rise in violent attacks by various rebel groups over the past two years. These attacks have mostly been focussed by TTP rebels operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Balochistan, very rebel groups have been targeting Pakistan Army and the police for their roles in enforced disappearances.
A little more than 48 hours ago, on Sunday, a suicide bomber had rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy in North Waziristan. The attack by the suicide bomber of the TTP had led to two soldiers dying instantly in the resultant explosion. At least 10 other soldiers were injured, many of them grievously but the ISPR has not issued any statement or update on the incident.
According to official data, Pakistan witnessed 79 attacks last month (in February), which had resulted in the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel. At least 45 civilians and 81 security personnel were injured in these incidents. This data also claimed that the security forces had eliminated 156 terrorists, injured 20, and arrested 66 during the month.
