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Pakistan: Militant Attack Kills At Least 12 Security Personnel

by Sarah Zaman

   Islamabad --

   An early morning militant attack in Pakistan's northwest Khyber
   Pakhtunkhwa province killed at least 12 security personnel and injured
   several more Tuesday.

   The attack occurred in Deraban, a remote area in the district of Dera
   Ismail Khan near Pakistan's tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.

   Speaking to VOA, rescue official Aizaz Mehmood confirmed at least 12
   casualties. He said rescue teams had been dispatched from other areas
   to respond.

   Reports of many more deaths are emerging, however, the military's media
   wing has not issued a statement so far.

   According to sources, militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into
   the wall of a facility run by the military, followed by the arrival of
   suicide attackers. In the ensuing fight, at least five militants were
   killed.

   Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a relatively new and less-known militant
   group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

   The group has carried out several high-profile raids against security
   forces in recent months including an attack on an air force base in
   early November that damaged three aircraft.

   In July, the group claimed responsibility for attacking a military base
   in southwestern Baluchistan province and killing 12 Pakistani soldiers.

   Condemning the attack in a message on X, formerly Twitter, Pakistan's
   caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar expressed the country's
   resolve to continue fighting terrorism.

   Pakistani military and police are coming under frequent deadly attacks,
   primarily in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

   Pakistan alleges terrorists present on Afghan soil are responsible for
   the surge and accuses Afghan Taliban of providing them safe haven. The
   de facto rulers in Kabul deny the charge.