12 Pakistan army soldiers killed in suicide car bomb attack in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

In a deadly attack on Pakistan's security forces, at least 12 soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a joint checkpost in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack occurred in the Malikhel area of Bannu district late on Tuesday night. According to the Pakistan Army’s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists tried to breach the joint checkpost but were initially repelled by security forces.

Despite the efforts to thwart the attack, the blast caused a significant collapse of the perimeter wall, damaging surrounding infrastructure. The explosion resulted in the deaths of 12 soldiers, including 10 from the Pakistan Army and 2 from the Frontier Constabulary. Additionally, several soldiers were injured in the blast and have been admitted to a local hospital for treatment.

Following the attack, the Pakistan Army engaged in a gun battle with the militants, killing six attackers. The Pakistani military has launched a sanitization operation in the region to search for any remaining perpetrators and ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice. The ISPR statement stressed the commitment to neutralizing terrorist threats in the area.

The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. This group has been known for carrying out violent insurgent activities in the region. The attack on the checkpost marks a continuation of rising terror-related incidents in Pakistan, particularly in the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, which have been hotspots for extremist violence.

This bombing follows a deadly blast earlier in the month on November 9, when a bomb exploded at a railway station in Quetta, Balochistan, killing 25 people, including 14 soldiers. The recent surge in attacks highlights the growing security concerns in Pakistan, as both military and civilian targets have been increasingly targeted by militants in various parts of the country.

As the sanitization operation continues, the Pakistan Army remains focused on eliminating terrorist cells operating in these volatile regions. The attack is part of a larger pattern of violence that has seen an uptick in terrorist activity across the nation, leaving authorities on high alert as they attempt to curb insurgent groups’ influence in the country.