Pakistani troops kill 10 militants responsible for attack on military base

8 soldiers killed, others injured in suicide attack claimed by Pakistani Taliban's splinter group led by Gul Bahadur.

Pakistan urges Taliban government in Afghanistan to prevent use of Afghan soil by terrorists. (AP)

Pakistani troops killed all 10 militants who attacked an army housing complex in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Monday.

The militants, affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban’s splinter group led by Gul Bahadur, had rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the outer wall of the complex, killing 8 soldiers and injuring others.

The attack, which occurred early Monday, was claimed by the splinter group. The military responded swiftly, eliminating the attackers in an 18-hour operation that ended on Tuesday.

While condemning the attack, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other officials praised the security forces for their “timely and effective response” in preventing a major catastrophe.

The military said the suicide attack collapsed a portion of the wall and damaged nearby infrastructure, resulting in the killing of the soldiers. However, the security force’s prompt response prevented further damage and loss of life.

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Pakistan has consistently raised its concerns with the Taliban government in Afghanistan, the military adds, “asking them to deny persistent use of Afghan soil by the terrorists and to take effective action against such elements.”

The military said Pakistan’s armed forces “will keep defending the motherland and its people against this menace of terrorism and will take all necessary measures as deemed appropriate against these threats emanating from Afghanistan.”

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This attack is the latest in a surge of militant attacks in Pakistan’s northwest, bordering Afghanistan, most of which have been blamed on the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), an ally of the Afghan Taliban.

The TTP has intensified its attacks on security forces since the Afghan Taliban took power in 2021. There has been no immediate comment from Kabul regarding the attack.