Pakistani Army Cantonment In Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Attacked By Taliban; Four Soldiers Feared Dead

The Bannu military cantonment in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 330 km east of Islamabad, was attacked early on Monday (15 July).

The assault involved several suicide bombers and led to an intense gunbattle with security forces.

The militant group Jaish Fursan-e-Muhammad, a faction of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Pakistani state media, the attack began when the assailants attempted to breach the cantonment’s security perimeter using an explosive-laden vehicle. The attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and wearing suicide vests, detonated the vehicle at a checkpoint, causing a massive explosion that enabled their advance.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple loud explosions followed by intense gunfire. The attackers took advantage of the chaos and engaged in a fierce shootout with the security forces at the cantonment.

Initial reports indicate that at least four Pakistani soldiers were killed, and several more were injured. A spokesperson for government hospitals in Bannu, Muhammad Numan, said that eight people were wounded in the attack.

Approximately eight civilians near the cantonment also lost their lives. However, the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed. The Pakistani Army deployed a gunship aircraft to provide aerial support and engage the attackers.

Following the attack, the military imposed a lockdown in the region, restricting Internet and phone services to prevent further coordination or escape by the attackers. The ongoing operation aims to secure the area and ensure the safety of both military personnel and civilians.

Jaish Fursan-e-Muhammad has a history of militant activity in the region, frequently targeting security forces and government installations.

Pakistan has seen a significant increase in terror activities in the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. Last week, Islamabad ruled out the possibility of any talks with the TTP.