BANNU – Six security personnel were martyred and five terrorists killed as Pakistani forces thwarted a major terrorist attack on the Federal Constabulary (FC) Headquarters in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a statement from the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The ISPR said that the attack was carried out by militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by the state as “Fitna-al-Khawarij”—a term used for groups accused of acting as Indian proxies.
“In a cowardly act of terrorism on September 2, Indian-sponsored Khawarij attempted to breach the perimeter of the FC Headquarters in Bannu. Their plans were swiftly foiled by the alert and brave response of Pakistani troops,” the ISPR stated.
According to the statement, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the facility’s outer wall, causing a partial collapse and damage to nearby civilian infrastructure. Three civilians were reportedly injured in the blast.
Following the explosion, troops engaged the terrorists in an intense firefight, ultimately killing all five attackers. ISPR praised the troops for their “unwavering courage and professional excellence” during the operation.
Tragically, six soldiers — from both the FC and Pakistan Army — embraced martyrdom in the exchange of fire while defending the facility.
A clearance and search operation is ongoing, and authorities have vowed to bring the perpetrators and their facilitators to justice.
“The security forces of Pakistan, in unity with the nation, remain resolute in eliminating Indian-sponsored terrorism from our soil,” the ISPR said, adding that the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians only strengthen national resolve to protect the country at all costs.
Continued Violence in KP
Tuesday’s attack is the latest in a surge of militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly targeting security personnel in areas like Bannu, Peshawar, Karak, Lakki Marwat, and Bajaur.
Bannu Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan told that five policemen were injured during the operation, which was led by District Police Officer Saleem Abbas inside the FC lines.
Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed confirmed during a media briefing that four attackers were killed within an hour of the assault, while the fifth was neutralized shortly after. He said a thorough clearance operation had been conducted to secure the area.
Since the TTP unilaterally ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, attacks have intensified across the country. Just last month, police and security forces arrested 14 suspected terrorist facilitators in Bannu’s Hoveed and Wazirabad areas and destroyed their hideouts.
Earlier incidents in Bannu this year include a deadly assault on a police checkpoint on August 3, which resulted in the martyrdom of a constable and the deaths of three terrorists. In July, militants used a quadcopter to attack a police station in the Miryan area—marking the fifth such attack on that installation in a single month.
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), August 2025 was the deadliest month in over a decade, recording a 74% increase in militant attacks compared to July.
