Terror attack kills 7 Pakistani soldiers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; six terrorists neutralised

In the volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, at least seven Pakistani Army soldiers, including two officers, were killed during a terrorist assault on a security checkpoint. The KP region has been a hotspot for militancy and extremism for decades.The attack, orchestrated by six militants, occurred in the North Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan. The assailants targeted the check post in Mir Ali by ramming an explosives-laden vehicle. The militants carried out multiple suicide bombings as well. Despite the efforts by the army to repel the intrusion, the attackers managed to breach the post.

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During the clearance operation, all six terrorists were neutralised. Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar were also killed in the exchange of fire.

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Following the attack, a sanitisation operation was launched to root out any remaining threats in the area. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur denounced the assault.

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“The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of portion of a building," as per the military which added that five security personnel were killed due to the debris.

It also added that two out of the seven soldiers were killed in further combat with the militants.

The incident comes as Pakistan continues to face persistent security challenges. Even as the military did not give any official statement on who carried out the attack, however, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad has claimed responsibility for the attack on the security post.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also denounced the attack.

The Pakistan Taliban, formally known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), had established its presence in North Waziristan and had planned attacks. However, the military claimed that itrooted out the militants from the region.

The TTP emerged in 2007 following the Pakistani military's operations in the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan. The group has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in Pakistan, targeting both military and civilian targets.

(With inputs from agencies)