Pakistan was hit by two separate terrorist attacks that left 15 people dead, including 10 soldiers and five civilians, including two women. Security forces responded by killing 13 terrorists in these violent clashes.
“In the first attack, a group of 10 militants attempted to enter the Bannu garrison in the early hours of Monday, July 15,” according to a press release from the army’s press office. The army’s press office attributed one of the attacks to Afghanistan-based insurgents.
“An attempt to infiltrate the garrison was effectively thwarted by security force personnel, forcing the terrorists to ram a vehicle loaded with explosives into the garrison’s outer wall. The explosion killed eight soldiers and caused part of the wall to collapse, damaging nearby infrastructure,” the statement continued.
“In the ensuing operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorists and eliminated all 10 terrorists. This timely and effective response by the security forces averted a catastrophe and saved precious innocent lives.”
“The attack was carried out by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, an affiliate of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group operates from Afghanistan and has previously been allegedly using Afghan territory to plan attacks inside Pakistan,” the Pakistani military said.
Bannu Garrison is a sensitive area that houses army offices and police stations.
Pakistani special forces were deployed from Kohat to carry out a clearance operation.
Prior to this, militants attacked a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) facility here in December 2022. After a protracted operation that lasted for nearly three days, the militants were finally eliminated inside the facility.
“The area has been cleared after the operation was completed,” Bannu District Police Officer Zia Ud Din told The Media Line.
In a second terrorist attack early Tuesday, militants opened fire on staff at a rural health centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, killing two female health workers, two children and a security guard.
“The military quickly mobilized nearby security forces for a clearance operation at the rural health center and eliminated three terrorists in a firefight,” the military reported.
However, during the fierce firefight, junior officers and soldiers lost their lives in the line of duty.
“Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to prevent terrorists from exploiting Afghan territory and take firm action against such forces,” the statement asserted. “Pakistan Armed Forces remain committed to protecting the country and its people from terrorism and will take necessary measures against any threat emanating from Afghanistan.”
