According to reports, at least 12 security personnel from the Pakistan Army were killed and another 10 critically injured when a suicide bomber attacked a security check post in MaliKhel in Bannu District of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
As per Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the deadly attack took place late Tuesday night when a joint security post of Pakistan Army and the Frontier Constabulary (FC) was attacked by at least six men, who rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of the post.
"The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by troops. The suicide blast led to collapse of portion of perimeter wall and damaged adjoining infrastructure, resulting in shahadat (martyrdom) of 12 brave sons of soil that include 10 soldiers of Frontier Constabulary," read a statement issued by the ISPR.
Sanitization operation is being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice. 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," the statement added.
ISPR also said that six terrorists involved in the attack on the post were neutralised during the exchange of fire with the security forces.
So far, no outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack but it is believed that terror groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliate groups, could be behind it.
The attack has come at a very critical juncture when both KP and Balochistan provinces are witnessing a major surge in targeted attacks on security forces.
Bannu district attack follows closely after a similar attack was carried out on a paramilitary border post in Balochistan the previous day.
A reported attack in the Kalat district of Balochistan killed at least seven soldiers and injured 15 others. The group responsible for the attack was identified as the BLA.
BLA had also claimed responsibility for the recent attack on a railway station that had killed 26 people.
Taking cognisance of the sharp rise in the frequency of militant attacks in Balochistan, the Pakistan government and the security establishment have sanctioned a full-scale military operation against all organisations operating in the province.
A high-level apex committee meeting was held at the Prime Minister House, where approval for a military operation in Balochistan against terror groups- Majeed Brigade, BLA, Baloch Liberation Front, and Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar-was accorded. The outfits have carried out several attacks on security forces, civilians and foreign nationals -Chinese citizens employed on CPEC-related projects in Pakistan - in the past.
The country's Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir and cabinet ministers, chief ministers, and senior government officials attended the apex committee chaired by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
"The participants of the meeting were briefed on the evolving security landscape an the measures being taken to counter terrorism and other critical challenges, including general law and order situation, actions against efforts to stroke sub-nationalism, religious extremism, tackling the illegal spectrum and crime-terror nexus, subversion and disinformation campaigns, among other issues", read a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office after the meeting.
During the meeting, Munir declared unwavering commitment to eliminating all threats to the country's national security.
"All those who create obstruction in Pakistan's security or try to stop them from performing their duty would face the music. Every Pakistani is a soldier in the war against terrorism, whether in uniform or not," the Pakistan Army Chief reportedly told meeting attendees.
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