Militants storm FC lines in Bannu
At least five militants attacked the Frontier Corps (FC) Lines in Bannu, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Tuesday, triggering an exchange of fire with security forces and police, officials said.
Police said the assault began with a suicide bomber ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into the FC lines, causing a powerful blast that damaged nearby houses and spread panic among residents.
District Police Officer Bannu, Saleem Kalachi, is leading the operation as a heavy police contingent and Quick Response Unit reinforcements surround the site. All roads leading to the FC Line have been sealed.
RPO Bannu and DPO Bannu are leading from the front in the fierce clash at FC Lines, Bannu.
Salute to their courage and leadership.
So far, 5 attackers have been eliminated, while 1 militant remains cornered inside the main office building. pic.twitter.com/mMAbhEcAmKThe explosion was followed by intense gunfire and further blasts as militants tried to storm the installation.
Authorities urged residents to remain indoors as the operation continues.
Read: Police repulse terror attack on Bannu post
K-P and Balochistan have witnessed an uptick in terrorist attacks in recent months. A report states that militant attacks in July increased by 5% compared to June.
The last month saw a slight increase in militant violence, following a brief decline in the preceding month, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said in its monthly report released last week.
The report said that 82 militant attacks were recorded across the country in July, resulting in the death of 101 people and injuries to 150 others. Among the fatalities, 47 were civilians, 36 security personnel, and 18 militants.
In contrast, the report said that June saw 78 militant attacks, resulting in 100 fatalities and 189 injuries. The July numbers indicated a 5% increase in the militant attacks compared to the previous month, the report added.
K-P remained the epicentre of such attacks, bearing the brunt of 53 assaults. Balochistan followed it with 28 attacks. According to the report, no militant incidents were reported from Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), or the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The report also highlighted intensified counter-militancy operations by the security forces, which resulted in the killing of 106 militants and the arrest of 69 suspected operatives in July.