Soldier martyred in Tank drone attack as three abducted brothers found dead in Bannu
A security personnel was martyred in a drone attack on a check post in Tank district, while three abducted brothers were found dead in Bannu and a separate drone strike hit a school in North Waziristan, officials said on Thursday.
In Tank, Naik Nadeem was martyred when terrorists targeted a security forces check post in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district late Wednesday night, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), K-P – Dera Ismail Khan Region, said in an official statement.
According to the CTD, the attack took place at approximately 1:30am in Village Kiri Haider within the limits of Police Station SMA. Terrorists described as “Fitna-Al-Khawarij” used a quadcopter to drop two explosive rounds on the check post.
Fitna-Al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The CTD said security forces secured the post and the surrounding area after the attack. Naik Nadeem sustained critical injuries due to the impact of the explosives and later succumbed to his wounds.
Further details regarding any damage or possible terrorist casualties were awaited, the department said, adding that the information was conveyed late due to network issues in the area.
“Monitoring and surveillance operations are ongoing,” the CTD said.
Authorities imposed a curfew in the Jandola subdivision of Tank on February 26 from 6:00am to 7:00pm. Officials said all movement would remain suspended during the curfew and Jandola Bazaar would remain closed.
Also read: UAE condemns terror attacks in Pakistan amid fresh security concerns
Entry has been strictly prohibited on the Kor Qila–Khargi to Jandola route, extending from Tank district to the border of South Waziristan, including Jandola Bazaar.
Officials said only emergency travel would be permitted, subject to prior approval from police or security forces and verification of identification documents. Residents have been instructed to stop vehicles 50 metres before approaching security checkpoints and ensure all passengers disembark. Violations will result in legal action.
In a separate incident in Bannu, unidentified terrorists abducted three brothers from a mosque in Sokrri Hassan Khel during Taraweeh prayers on Wednesday night, said Cantt Police Station SHO Wajidur Rehman.
Police said around 10 to 12 armed men entered the mosque and took the brothers to an undisclosed location.
The abducted men were identified as Saeed Akhtar, an employee of the Commissioner’s Office; Constable Amjad of the SDW Elite Force; and Constable Hazratullah of the SDW Commissioner Squad.
The incident triggered panic in the area, with residents urging the district administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure their immediate and safe recovery.
Early Thursday morning, the bodies of all three were recovered from Airport Road in Bannu, near Marwat Canal Road, close to Bannu Airport. The bodies were found lying by the roadside.
After legal formalities were completed, the bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. Police said a search operation was underway for the attackers and the third brother.
"The terrorists showed no respect for the holy month of Ramazan, no regard for the sanctity of the mosque, and no consideration for the sacredness of Taraweeh prayers. This tragic incident is clear evidence of the terrorists’ brutality and hostility toward Islam," said the Regional Police Oficer Bannu.
The funeral prayers for the martyred officers were offered at the Police Lines with full official honours.
The funeral was attended by DIG Bannu Sajad Khan, Deputy Commissioner Faheem Ullah, Assistant Commissioner Allah Nawaz, SP Investigation Sajid Mumtaz, SP City Tauheed Khan, SP Traffic Ehsanuddin, and other senior officers and personnel.
Officers laid flowers on the bodies of the martyrs and prayed for their elevation in ranks and forgiveness.
On this occasion, DIG Bannu Region Sajad Khan said that targeting innocent civilians and places of worship is open terrorism and anti-humanity. Elements carrying out such attacks during the holy month of Ramazan deserve no leniency. "The Bannu Region Police will not let the sacrifices of the martyrs go in vain."
Separately, a drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in the Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan late Wednesday night, the district administration said.
A drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in the Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan PHOTO: EXPRESS
A drone strike was reported at Government High School Shamazan Kot in the Miami Kabul Khel area of Tehsil Shewa in North Waziristan PHOTO: EXPRESS
Local sources said the drone hit the school premises; however, no casualties were reported. Authorities have not released further details regarding the strike.
The latest terror incidents come amid a renewed surge in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Pakistan’s security forces have intensified intelligence-based operations in response to the uptick in attacks.
Read: Security forces kill 5 terrorists, foil attack plot in Pishin
The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Wednesday that security forces killed 34 militants in a series of high-tempo operations in the two provinces. Of these, 26 militants linked to what the state terms Fitna al-Khawarij — referring to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — were killed in four engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while eight militants described as Fitna al-Hindustan were neutralised in Sambaza, Zhob district.
According to the ISPR, security forces also foiled an infiltration attempt near Hassan Khel in North Waziristan, killing an Afghan national affiliated with the militant network. Additional intelligence-based operations in Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mir Ali resulted in the killing of more militants and the recovery of weapons and ammunition.
Read More: Pakistan wary of militant attacks after Afghanistan air strikes
The recent spike in violence is linked to the cross-border militant sanctuaries. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said terrorists often retaliate after operations against their hideouts in Afghanistan, adding that security forces remain on high alert. Intelligence agencies have also warned of a possible increase in attacks targeting urban centres, markets, security forces and places of worship.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows terrorist attacks in Pakistan have risen sharply in recent years, increasing nearly fourfold to 2,425 incidents in 2025 from 658 in 2022, underscoring growing security challenges facing the country.
Earlier, Pakistan late Saturday night carried out intelligence-based strikes against terrorist camps inside Afghanistan in what officials described as a retaliatory response to a series of deadly suicide attacks during Ramazan.
The attacks included a bombing at an Imambargah in Islamabad and multiple blasts in Bajaur and Bannu.
Islamabad said it possessed “conclusive evidence” that the incidents were orchestrated by terrorists operating from Afghan territory, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.