In response to a terrorist attack on the Bannu canton in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa removed security forces 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombs, while five soldiers were martyrated, the military’s media wing said Wednesday.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack happened on Tuesday night when terrorists tried to break the high-security zone by hitting two explosive-loaded vehicles in the circular wall of the Bannu canton.

ISPR said, “Troops engaged with precision and eliminated all 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombs.”

In the subsequent firefighter, five soldiers embraced martyrdom in the duty line according to ISPR.

The blasting caused significant damage to the circumference wall, resulting in the partial collapse of nearby structures. A mosque and a residential building were severely affected, which led to the martyrdom of 13 civilians and damage to 32 others, it added.

ISPR referred to the striker as “Khwarij Elements”, an expression used by the government to describe the Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliated companies.

ISPR also said, “Intelligence reports unequivocally confirmed the physical involvement of Afghan citizens in this abhorrent act,” added that the attack was “orchestrated and directed by Khwarij Ring leaders operating from Afghanistan.”

ISPR also called on the temporary Afghan government to take responsibility for preventing its land from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

“Islamabad expects the preliminary Afghan government to maintain its responsibilities and deny its land for terrorist activities against Pakistan.”

The statement confirmed Pakistan’s obligation to counter terrorism and emphasized that the victims of both security personnel and civilian forces the decision to protect the nation.

It also declared that “Pakistan reserves the right to take the necessary measures in response to these threats derived from the entire border.”

The attack has been claimed by an affiliated company with the forbidden Hafiz Yellow Bahadur -Terrorist group that enjoys shrines across the border in Afghanistan. The group conducted a similar deadly attack on the same garrison last July, which detonated an explosive vehicle against the border wall.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the terrorist attack and praised the security forces for “sending attackers to hell,” his office said in a statement. “Such an attack during iftar in the Holy Month Ramazan is an abominable act,” he said, adding that the entire nation rejects such dishonest acts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces for “sending the terrorists to hell” who tried to attack Bannu Cantt. “The Feige terrorists who targeted innocent civilians in the Holy Month Ramazan do not deserve any grace,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by his office in a statement.