states, Afghanistan-based terrorists involved in attacks, killed 15 people; Pakistan summons Afghan envoy
PESHAWAR:
Bannu Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Sajjad Khan on Monday submitted a report to the city police office regarding the terrorist attack on the Fateh Khel police checkpost on Saturday, stating that terrorists detonated a vehicle packed with 1,200 to 1,500 kg of explosive material, killing 15 policemen.
Along with confirming the martyrdom of the 15 policemen and injuries to three others, the report stated that the vehicle was detonated near the gate of the check post at around 8:30 pm on 9 May.
The blast caused severe damage to the check post building where the terrorists tried to storm it in an attempt to seize equipment present inside, it added. The vehicle in question was a loader rickshaw, according to authorities.
According to the report, retaliatory fire by the police prevented the terrorists from entering, where several of the terrorists were killed or injured during the encounter.
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The report further stated that a search operation was launched after the attack. It added that the terrorist group responsible for the attack had been identified, confirming that terrorists based in Afghanistan were also involved in the incident.
Notably, the report maintained that Fateh Khel checkpost had been attacked 18 times in the last five months, with all previous attempts having failed as terrorists fled in the face of retaliatory fire. In this case, however, the attackers were equipped with a significantly larger amount of explosive material, it added.
The death toll rose to 15 on Sunday, as the banned outfit Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan belongs to Fitna al-Khawarijtook responsibility for the attack. Police had stated that the terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel checkpoint, triggering a massive blast, while they also opened fire from multiple directions after the blast.
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Of the 18 policemen present at the check post at the time of the attack, the police confirmed the identity of the 15 martyred as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Sohaib, Saadullah, Kamran, Naimatullah, Abid Jani, Imran, Naeemullah, Sadiqullah, Mir Alam Daq Khan, Raha and Fartoo. The injured were identified as Feroz, Hayatullah and Fidaullah.
Due to the intensity of the explosion, nearby structures and residential buildings suffered extensive damage. Following the incident, an emergency was declared at all three major hospitals in Bannu as security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation. Snap checks at entry and exit points in Bannu were also intensified.
Later, funeral prayers for the martyred policemen were offered with full state honors at Police Lines Bannu.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has summoned the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires and issued a “strong demarche” over the attack. The State Department said the demarche conveyed that a detailed investigation into the incident, along with evidence and technical intelligence, indicated that the attack was masterminded by terrorists based in Afghanistan.
“To reiterate Pakistan’s grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, it was conveyed to the Afghan side that Pakistan reserves the right to respond decisively against the perpetrators of this barbaric act,” the ministry said.
