By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Security forces repelled a brazen terrorist attack on the Frontier Constabulary (FC) Headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district early on Tuesday, killing five assailants but losing six soldiers in a fierce exchange of fire, the military’s media wing reported.
The assault, which authorities attributed to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna-al-Khawarij, involved a suicide bombing that damaged civilian infrastructure and injured three bystanders.
The attack, described by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) as a “cowardly terrorist act,” unfolded in the predawn hours when a group of militants attempted to breach the perimeter of the heavily fortified FC Headquarters. “During early hours of September 2, 2025, in a cowardly terrorist attack, khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna-al-Khwarij targeted FC Headquarters in Bannu district,” the ISPR statement said, alleging foreign sponsorship of the assailants.
According to the military, the attackers, thwarted by a vigilant and rapid response from security forces, resorted to desperate measures. “In their desperation, the kharjis rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall,” the ISPR reported. The resulting suicide blast caused a partial collapse of the wall and damaged nearby civilian structures, leaving three civilians injured.
The troops, displaying “unwavering courage and professional excellence,” engaged the militants in a precise counteroffensive, neutralizing all five attackers. However, the intense firefight claimed the lives of six soldiers from the FC and Pakistan Army, who were hailed for “putting up a heroic fight.”
Bannu Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan confirmed that five policemen were also injured during the operation, which was led by Bannu District Police Officer Saleem Abbas within the FC lines. Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, addressing reporters in a briefing, said the coordinated response by police, army, and FC personnel was swift and effective. “Four terrorists were killed within an hour of the attack, and the fifth was later eliminated,” Hameed said. A subsequent clearance and search operation, later confirmed as complete by Khan, ensured the area was secure.
The ISPR vowed that operations in the area would continue to track down those responsible for the attack. “The perpetrators of the heinous and cowardly act will be brought to justice,” the statement said. “The security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain steadfast in their resolve to eradicate Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent civilians further strengthen our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs.”
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Bannu, in recent months. The region, along with Peshawar, Karak, Lakki Marwat, and Bajaur, has seen a surge in militant activity targeting security personnel, especially police. In August, a police constable was killed in a terrorist attack on a checkpoint in Bannu, with three terrorists also killed in the ensuing clash. Last month, security forces arrested 14 “terrorist facilitators” and dismantled their hideouts in the Hoveed and Wazirabad areas of Bannu. In July, a police station in Miryan, Bannu, was targeted for the fifth time in a month, with terrorists deploying a quadcopter in one assault.
The escalation in violence follows the TTP’s decision to end its ceasefire with the Pakistani government in November 2022, after which the group vowed to intensify its attacks. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), August 2025 marked a 74 percent increase in militant attacks compared to July, making it the “deadliest month in over a decade” for Pakistan.
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