12 Pakistan Soldiers Killed In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa As Suicide Bomber Rams Explosive-Laden Vehicle Into Army Checkpoint

12 security personnel and six militants were killed when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a joint checkpoint in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military reported on Wednesday (20 November).

The attack occurred late Tuesday night in the Mali Khel area of Bannu district. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's Army, the militants attempted to breach the joint checkpoint but were repelled by security forces.

The suicide bombing caused a section of the perimeter wall to collapse, damaging nearby infrastructure. Among the casualties were 10 soldiers from the security forces and two members of the Frontier Constabulary, referred to by the ISPR as "brave sons of the soil."

The injured have been transported to a local hospital, and a sanitisation operation is underway in the area. Six militants were also killed during the subsequent firefight. Authorities have imposed a curfew to ensure security during the operation, The New Indian Express reported.

Security forces and law enforcement agencies reiterated their commitment to eradicating terrorism. Pakistan has experienced a significant increase in militant activity, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, over the past year.

A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) noted a 90 per cent surge in violence during the third quarter of the current year, highlighting the escalating security challenges. This incident follows the recent approval of a "comprehensive military operation" by Pakistan’s civil and military leadership.

On Tuesday, the Federal Apex Committee, a high-level counterterrorism forum chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by Army Chief Gen Syed Asim Munir and other senior officials, decided to launch operations targeting militant groups in Balochistan, which has witnessed several deadly attacks in recent months.