Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat over deadly Bannu police post attack

Pakistan summoned on Monday the Afghan Chargé d'Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the vehicle-borne IED attack on the Fateh Khel Police Post in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Foreign Office said evidence and technical intelligence pointed to Fitna-al-Khawarij (TTP) militants based in Afghanistan as the masterminds. The attack on Saturday killed 15 police constables and left four others injured, including a civilian.

Pakistan expressed grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for attacks against its territory. The Foreign Office stressed that such actions pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability. Officials also cited United Nations Monitoring Team reports documenting terrorist organizations operating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan urged the Afghan Taliban regime to honor its commitments and prevent Afghan soil from being used for cross-border terrorism.

Islamabad called for concrete, verifiable action against Fitna-al-Khawarij (TTP), Fitna-al-Hindustan (BLA) and ISKP/Daesh. The Foreign Office noted that several rounds of talks, facilitated by friendly countries, have yet to produce meaningful results.

What happened in the Bannu police post attack?

Militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu district late Saturday night, destroying the post entirely.

They then launched a follow-up gun assault on the site. At least 15 officers were killed and three others were pulled alive from the rubble and taken to hospital.

Regional police officer Sajjad Khan said the blast completely destroyed the post. Authorities deployed additional police contingents to the area in the immediate aftermath.

Security forces cordoned off the site and launched search-and-strike operations in surrounding areas to track down the attackers.

Local residents reported hearing at least four explosions during the assault, audible from distant areas.

Civilian areas close to the post appeared to sustain damage from the blasts. Search and rescue operations were still underway after the initial response, a police official said.

Which group claimed responsibility for the Bannu attack?

The banned militant group Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and directed authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the wounded.

Afridi pledged that the sacrifices of the officers killed would not go in vain. He said efforts would continue until terrorism was fully eradicated from the region.

The Foreign Office made clear that Pakistan would not compromise on national security so long as terrorist groups find safe havens across the border.

Why does Bannu face repeated militant attacks?

Bannu lies near Pakistan's former tribal districts along the border with Afghanistan, a corridor that has seen sustained militant violence for years.

Several armed groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, IMP and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction, remain active in the region. They have repeatedly targeted security forces, government officials and state installations across the area.

Pakistan has conducted multiple counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the years, but attacks have continued.

The rugged terrain and proximity to the Afghan border have made the region persistently difficult to secure. The Bannu attack is the latest in a series of incidents that have strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations over cross-border militancy.