Two Pakistani soldiers were killed and five militants neutralised in a suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Saturday, the military said. Authorities said a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted, preventing an attack on civilians and security forces.
Two security personnel were killed in a suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, the military’s media wing reported.
The Pakistan army also said five militants were also killed in the attack.
The Pakistani army said a convoy of security forces was targeted by the “Fitna al-Khawarij” group during an operation in Bannu district against suspected Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. Authorities said a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading contingent, averting a planned attack on civilians and law enforcement personnel.
During the operation, security forces killed five militants in an intense exchange of fire. However, the attackers then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into one of the army vehicles, killing commanding officer Lt Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah.
‘Fitna al-Khawarij’: Pakistan’s homegrown terror threat
Fitna al-Khawarij is the term used by Pakistan for its banned TTP militants. The Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, is a militant Islamist group formed around 2007 by Pakistani insurgent factions in the Pashtun tribal areas.
The TTP has carried out repeated attacks on Pakistani security forces, often triggering heavy counter-operations. Analysts claim that Pakistan’s army uses these operations to justify crackdowns, which have reportedly included human rights violations and enforced disappearances.
Bannu: A long-standing flashpoint
Bannu district has been a frequent site of armed violence, with repeated attacks on security forces, police checkpoints, and civilian targets over the years. Security officials have reported suicide bombings, armed assaults, and strikes on police installations.
The violence in Bannu is part of a wider surge in armed rebel activity across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the Pakistani government in late 2022.
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