Six personnel of the Federal Constabulary and Pakistan Army were martyred in the early hours of Tuesday when militants launched a deadly assault on the Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Bannu district.

According to security officials, heavily armed attackers, linked to an Indian-backed militant group, attempted to storm the facility by ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall. The massive suicide blast caused part of the wall to collapse, damaging nearby civilian property and leaving three civilians injured.

Despite the surprise strike, troops at the headquarters responded swiftly and with precision. In a fierce exchange of fire, all five attackers were killed before they could inflict further damage. The prompt action of the security forces prevented what could have been an even greater tragedy.

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Confirming the development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said the Bannu terrorist attack today had been fully neutralized and the clearance operation completed. He praised the bravery of the soldiers who fought back against the militants and highlighted that the threat of terrorism in the southern districts had seen an uptick in recent months.

“Police and security operations against militants have increased by 25 percent this year,” Hameed noted, adding that terrorists have begun using drones in some attacks. To counter this growing challenge, anti-drone technology has now been provided to provincial police forces.

Officials emphasized that the sacrifices of Pakistan’s security forces will not go in vain. They reiterated that both the military and police remain committed to eradicating terrorism from the country and bringing all perpetrators and their facilitators to justice.