23 Pakistani soldiers killed in 6-man suicide attack

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

A six-man suicide squad drove an explosive-laden truck into a military camp in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 23 soldiers, the army said, the heaviest death toll in a single attack in years, less than two months ahead of national elections.

The gun and bomb attack occurred in the remote district of Dera Ismail Khan (DIK) on the edge of tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, the army said in a statement, adding all six attackers were killed in an ensuing battle.

The army had set up the base camp in a police station complex in the Daraban area of the district. “The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted, which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack,” the army statement said.

The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties, it added. It added that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area.

Police officers examine damage to the site of a bombing at a police station on Tuesday. AP

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthens our resolve,” it said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar condemned the attack, a statement from his office said. Several of the wounded were in critical condition, said Aizaz Mehmood, an official of the state-run rescue service.

In a statement, a Pakistani Taliban group, the Tahreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), which has emerged recently and claimed several attacks in recent months, said its militants carried out the attack aimed at the Pakistani army.

In a separate operation in the Darazinda area, 17 terrorists were killed, the ISPR said, adding that during an operation, terrorists’ hideout was busted and 17 terrorists were killed.

The ISPR also stated that two soldiers embraced martyrdom while four more terrorists were neutralised in another intelligence-based operation in the Kulachi area.

“️The killed terrorists were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing innocent civilians. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered during the operations,” it added.