Suicide attack in northwest Pakistan kills 12 soldiers

A suicide attack in northwest Pakistan's Bannu district killed 12 soldiers Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan military's media wing.

"A suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle near the checkpoint, after which his accomplices opened fire," an intelligence official told AFP of the attack.

The official said that the explosion "caused significant damage" to the Mali Khel checkpoint's structure as well as to military vehicles.

The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan's military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), released an official statement about the Bannu attack on Tuesday.

"Khwarij attempted to attack a Joint Check Post in general area MaliKhel in Bannu District. In ensuing fire exchange, six khwarij were sent to hell," the statement said. "The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by own troops, which forced the khwarij to ram an explosive laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the post."

According to ISPR, "The suicide blast led to collapse of portion of perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure, resulting in Shahadat of twelve brave sons of soil that include ten Soldiers of the security forces and two soldiers of Frontier Constabulary."

"Sanitization operation is being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice," the statement added. "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."

String of attacks

The bombing occurred less than 24 hours after another attack, also in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to another official, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity.

That clash on Monday lasted hours and resulted in the deaths of eight soldiers and nine militants in the Tirah area of the province, the officer said.

The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, later claimed responsibility for that attack, saying it was in response to a search by security forces targeting them.

Near the checkpoint blast in Bannu, seven police officers had been taken hostage on Monday, but were released less than a day later.

Their release came after negotiations between a jirga -- or tribal council -- and the captors.

"All the kidnapped policemen have been released following successful negotiations led by local elders with militants," senior police official Muhammad Zia ud-Din told AFP.