Twelve security personnel were martyred, and six terrorists were killed after a checkpost was attacked in the Mali Khel area of Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media affairs wing reported on Wednesday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), militants, referred to as "khwarij," attempted to breach the joint checkpost on Tuesday. Although the attack was thwarted, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle, causing the collapse of the perimeter wall and damaging adjacent infrastructure.

“In the ensuing fire exchange, six khwarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said. It confirmed that 10 soldiers and two Frontier Constabulary personnel were martyred in the attack. A sanitisation operation is ongoing, with the military vowing to bring the perpetrators 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.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their grief and paid tribute to the personnel who sacrificed their lives. In a statement, President Zardari said, “The whole nation salutes the soldiers for sacrificing their lives for the security of their motherland,” reiterating the resolve to eradicate terrorism.

Prime Minister Shehbaz stated, “The sacrifices of the nation’s soldiers will never be squandered. The Fitna Al Khawarij posing threats to the lives and properties of the people will have to pay a heavy price for it.”

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, describing the personnel as “heroes of our nation” who thwarted the designs of terrorists. He assured support to the martyrs' families and added, “The nation remains indebted to their ultimate devotion to peace.”

The Iranian embassy in Islamabad also condemned the attack, expressing condolences to the government and people of Pakistan, as well as to the families of the martyrs.

Meanwhile, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Pakistan in combating terrorism. State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said during a press briefing, “We remain committed to engaging with government leaders and civilian institutions to identify opportunities to build capacity in detecting, preventing, and responding to threats posed by militant terrorist groups.” He extended condolences to the victims of recent terror attacks, including the deadly Quetta railway station bombing earlier this month.

The Bannu district has recently experienced heightened militant activity, including the abduction of policemen, an attack on a girls' school, and clashes that have resulted in the martyrdom of security personnel. On Monday, seven abducted policemen were safely recovered with the assistance of tribal elders.

Over the weekend, eight security personnel were martyred, and three injured during gun battles with militants in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In another incident, a pre-dawn attack in Balochistan’s Kalat left seven security personnel dead and 18 others wounded.

The attack on the Bannu checkpost is the latest in a series of violent incidents since the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke a ceasefire agreement in 2022. The government has designated the TTP as Fitna Al Khawarij and mandated the use of the term khariji for individuals involved in terrorist activities.

Pakistan recorded over 1,500 fatalities and 1,463 injuries from nearly 800 terror-related incidents in 2023, marking the highest toll in six years. Despite the challenges, security forces remain resolute in their mission to eliminate terrorism and restore peace.