BANNU: At least five people, including three women and a child, were martyred and four others seriously injured in a suicide attack targeting civilians near a police station in Bannu on Friday, according to security sources. The attacker attempted to strike outside the Domail police station, but the assault was foiled before reaching its intended target. Officials said the attack was carried out by militants linked to âFitna al-Khawarij.âRescue and security teams quickly reached the site, shifting the injured to nearby hospitals while clearing debris and launching search operations in the area.
The incident comes amid an intensified wave of counterterrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that 22 militants have been killed in operations since April 1.
On April 1, 13 militants were eliminated during intelligence-based operations in the Bara area of Khyber District and Bannu. A day later, eight more were killed near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant activity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021 following the return of the Afghan Taliban to power. Authorities have also pointed to ongoing tensions along the border. In October 2025, clashes between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban fighters resulted in the deaths of over 200 militants and 23 Pakistani soldiers.
Despite multiple rounds of dialogue, both sides have yet to reach a consensus, with Islamabad repeatedly urging action against militant groups operating from across the border.
