In a brazen suicide attack in Pakistan’s volatile Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a Lieutenant Colonel and a soldier from the Pakistan Army lost their lives on Saturday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) detailed the tragic event, pointing fingers at Fitna al-Khawarij, a faction associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
ISPR reported that the security team, acting on intelligence about militants and a suicide bomber, was targeted during an operation. The bomber, traveling in a vehicle packed with explosives, was intercepted but detonated upon collision with the forces’ vehicle, killing Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz (43) and Sepoy Karamat Shah (28).
Heavy exchange of fire followed, with security personnel neutralizing five assailants. The military emphasized the attackers’ use of Afghan territory to launch incursions into Pakistan, even violating Ramadan’s holiness.
This strike comes amid the intensified ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ initiative, aimed at dismantling terror networks as per the Federal Apex Committee’s directives under the National Action Plan.
President Asif Ali Zardari issued a strong denunciation, calling the attack ‘cowardly’ and vowing relentless pursuit of the perpetrators. He extended sympathies to the families, reiterating that true Islam rejects such violence.
The incident highlights the relentless battle Pakistan’s forces wage against insurgency, with Bannu remaining a hotspot for militant activities. As operations continue, the nation honors the fallen heroes defending its sovereignty.