At least 12 security personnel were martyred in a suicide attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) District Bannu, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday.
The military’s media wing, in a statement, said that terrorists or “khawarij” attempted to attack a joint check post in the general area of Mali Khel in Bannu on November 19 (Tuesday).
“In [the] ensuing fire exchange, six terrorists were sent to hell,” the statement read, adding that the attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by the troops, which forced the attackers to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the post.
Explaining the attack further, the military’s media wing said that the suicide blast led to the collapse of a portion of the perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure.
This, the ISPR said, resulted in the martyrdom of 12 brave sons of soil that included 10 soldiers of the security forces and two soldiers of Frontier Constabulary.
Following the attack, the statement mentioned, a sanitisation operation was being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this heinous act would be brought to justice.Play Video
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve.”
President, PM pay tributes
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the soldiers, honouring their ultimate sacrifice for the defence of the homeland.
The president, in a statement, stated that the entire nation salutes those who laid down their lives for the security of the motherland.
The president also reiterated the nation’s commitment to eradicating the scourge of terrorism entirely.
He offered prayers for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks, expressing his solemn condolences for the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the terrorist incident.
In his statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that security forces had paid the ultimate price for their bravery in the process of killing the terrorists.
