RAWALPINDI: As many as 10 terrorists were neutralized in an attempt to breach the Bannu Cantonment, as reported by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday, with eight soldiers also martyred during the incident.
The ISPR said in a statement that a group of 10 terrorists attacked Bannu Cantonment early on July 15; however, security forces successfully stopped them from entering the facility.
However, when their assault was unsuccessful, the terrorists reportedly detonated an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the cantonment, according to the military’s media wing.
The ISPR reported that the suicide blast resulted in the collapse of a section of the wall and inflicted damage on the adjacent infrastructure, leading to the martyrdom of eight courageous soldiers.
Their identities were confirmed as:
- Naib Subedar Muhammad Shehzad, aged 44, resident of Poonch district, AJK
- Havildar Zil-e-Hussain, aged 39, resident of Khushab district
- Sepoy Ashfaq Hussain Khan, aged 30, resident of Muzzafarabad district, AJK
- Havildar Shahzad Ahmed, aged 28, resident of Neelum district, AJK
- Sepoy Imtiaz Khan, aged 30, resident of Karak district
- Sepoy Sobhan Majeed, aged 22, resident of Muzzafarabad district, AJK
- Sepoy Arsalan Aslam, aged 26, resident of Bahawalpur district
- Lance Naik Sabz Ali of the Frontier Constabulary, aged 34, resident of Lakki Marwat.
“The timely and effective response by the security forces prevented a major catastrophe, saving precious innocent lives,” read the statement. “The gallant and selfless action of the security forces demonstrates their unrelenting resolve in the fight against terrorism.”
According to the military’s spokesperson, the attack was conducted by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, which operates from Afghanistan and has previously used its territory to launch terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
The statement reaffirmed the security forces’ commitment to defending the country from terrorism and taking all necessary measures against threats originating from Afghanistan.
It should be noted that in November 2023, Pakistan summoned the head of the Afghan diplomatic mission in Islamabad and requested the extradition of terrorist Gul Bahadur, leader of a faction of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
