Peshawar, September 2 (PTI): On Tuesday, five terrorists were killed during an assault on the headquarters of the paramilitary forces in Pakistan's volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials reported. Six policemen sustained injuries in subsequent gunfights with the attackers.
The militants launched an attack on the Federal Constabulary (FC) Lines situated in Bannu district, which neighbors North Waziristan and Afghanistan. The assault began with a suicide bomber driving an explosives-packed car into the main gate, as confirmed by District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas Kalachi.
Security forces managed to kill one of the terrorists in the initial gunfight. Subsequent encounters, involving joint operations by the police, paramilitary forces, and other security personnel, resulted in the deaths of four additional militants.
During the exchange of fire, the Station House Officer (SHO) from Cantonment Police Station suffered critical injuries, while five other policemen were hurt.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Bannu Sajjad Khan visited the injured personnel at the District Headquarters Hospital. DPO Kalachi, overseeing the operation, told the media that terrorism will not be tolerated in Bannu, stating: “Terrorists can never be called Muslims.”
Separately, two policemen lost their lives when terrorists opened fire on them in the Lakki Marwat district, police reported. The area was cordoned off as the police launched a large-scale combing operation to apprehend the terrorists involved.
Pakistan has experienced a surge in terrorist activities following the end of the ceasefire between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government in November 2022, with TTP vowing increased attacks.
Data from the Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) showed a stark rise in militant violence in August, with a 74% increase in attacks compared to July, making it the “deadliest month in over a decade”.
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