RAWALPINDI: An Afghan suicide bomber, affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, attacked a security forces convoy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu District, leading to the martyrdom of two civilians and injuries to ten individuals, including three soldiers, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed this incident on Monday.
The unfortunate event occurred on Sunday in the Bakka Khel area of Bannu district, as shared by the military’s media wing. The ISPR reported that the suicide bomber, riding a motorcycle, detonated himself during the attack.
Among those injured, seven were civilians while three were soldiers. The ISPR highlighted ongoing sanitization efforts in the area to root out any potential remaining threats.
Expressing determination to eradicate terrorism, the ISPR stated, “Security forces of Pakistan are resolute in eliminating terrorism, and the sacrifices of our courageous civilians and soldiers only fortify our determination.”
The group responsible for the attack is a faction of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Pakistan has witnessed an escalation in terrorist activities lately, with TTP and other militant factions escalating assaults on security forces. In response, the state has initiated operations to combat terrorism.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), a report in October revealed that security forces lost a significant number of personnel—386—in the initial nine months of 2023, marking the highest toll in eight years.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remained focal points of violence, constituting nearly 94% of all fatalities and 89% of attacks (including instances of terrorism and security force operations) during this period.
Furthermore, Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of fueling the surge in terrorism. Islamabad has consistently highlighted the use of US-made weaponry by terrorists in attacks within Pakistan.
In September, the Foreign Office expressed concerns over the use of “advanced weapons” by terrorists operating from Afghanistan to target Pakistan and its security agencies. The spokesperson emphasized the need for international attention and urged stakeholders to take responsibility.
The failure of the Afghan Taliban to act against terrorists attacking Pakistan has prompted Islamabad to launch a campaign to expel illegal aliens. Over 300,000 individuals have returned to Afghanistan since Pakistan ordered the deportation or departure of 1.7 million Afghans deemed to be residing illegally in the country.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
