Karachi: At least 12 Pakistan Army soldiers were killed and several others wounded in the northwestern province of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a joint check post in Malikhel area.
“The terrorists attempted to attack a joint check post in general area Malikhel in Bannu district late on Tuesday night but their attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by troops. The suicide blast led to collapse of portion of perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure, resulting in the death of 12 brave sons of soil including 10 soldiers of the security forces and two soldiers of the Frontier Constabulary,” Pakistan Army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The casualties could go up as some of the injured are in critical condition, undergoing treatment in a local hospital.
Pakistan Army said six “terrorists” were killed in the gunbattle.
Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack, AP reported.
“Sanitization operation is being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice,” the Army said.
There has been a rise in terror-related incidents in Pakistan of late.
Earlier this month, 14 Pakistan Army soldiers were among 25 killed at a railway station blast in Quetta.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter of 2024 saw a 90 per cent surge in violence in Pakistan.
To tackle this spurt in violence, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced a new military offensive against separatists in southwestern Balochistan province.