Deadly Clash in Bannu Claims 13 Lives, Police Hurt

Intense fighting between security personnel and militants in Bannu’s Barakzai Akhunzkhel area on Saturday resulted in 13 fatalities and four injured policemen, officials said. The confrontation began when armed men ambushed a police peace committee near Miryan tehsil, triggering a prolonged exchange of gunfire that lasted several hours. According to DPO Yasir Afridi, twelve militants were neutralized during the operation while a retired constable was also killed. The wounded officers were rushed to the district headquarters hospital where medical staff confirmed their stable condition. Extra police contingents have since been deployed to maintain order and conduct search operations in the surrounding hills. This latest violence comes just days after a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post that left 15 officers dead and another bombing in Wana that killed three people, including a tribal elder. Islamabad has formally protested to Kabul, accusing Afghan soil of being used to plan such strikes. Local leaders are urging the government to accelerate peace talks with disaffected groups while strengthening border surveillance to stem the flow of weapons and fighters.