Terrorists based in Afghanistan participated in the attack, killing 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 checkpoint last Saturday, stating that the terrorists detonated a vehicle filled with 1,200 to 1,500 kilograms of explosive material, killing 15 policemen.
Besides confirming the martyrdom of the 15 policemen and the injuries of three others, the report said that the vehicle exploded near the checkpoint gate around 8:30 p.m. on May 9.
The explosion caused serious damage to the checkpoint building as the terrorists attempted to storm the building in an attempt to seize the equipment inside, the statement added. The vehicle in question, according to authorities, was a loader rickshaw.
According to the report, police retaliatory fire prevented the terrorists from entering, with several of them killed or injured during the clash.
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The report further states that a search operation was launched following the attack. He added that the terrorist group responsible for the attack had been identified, confirming that terrorists based in Afghanistan were also involved in the incident.
The report notably states that the Fateh Khel checkpoint has been attacked 18 times in the past five months, with all previous attempts having failed as the terrorists fled in the face of retaliatory fire. In this case, however, the attackers were equipped with a significantly larger quantity of explosive material, he adds.
The death toll rose to 15 on Sunday as banned group Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan, belonging to the group Fitna al-Khawarijclaimed responsibility for the attack. Police said the terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel checkpoint, triggering a massive explosion, while they also opened fire in several directions after the blast.
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Of the 18 policemen present at the checkpoint at the time of the attack, police confirmed the identities of the 15 martyrs: Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Sohaib, Saadullah, Kamran, Naimatullah, Abid Jani, Imran, Naeemullah, Sadiqullah, Mir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq Dad. The injured were identified as Feroz, Hayatullah and Fidaullah.
Due to the intensity of the explosion, nearby structures and residential buildings suffered significant damage. Following the incident, a state of emergency was declared at the three main hospitals in Bannu while security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation. Snap checks at entry and exit points of Bannu have also been intensified.
Later, funeral prayers for the martyred police officers were offered with full state honors at the Bannu police lines.
Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires and launched a “strong approach” following the attack. The Foreign Office said the move indicated that a detailed investigation into the incident, as well as evidence and technical intelligence, indicated that the attack was orchestrated by terrorists residing in Afghanistan.
“Reiterating Pakistan’s grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, the Afghan side was satisfied that Pakistan reserves the right to respond decisively against the perpetrators of this barbaric act,” the ministry said.
