The de@th toll from a suicide bombing at a security post in northwest Pakistan’s Bannu district climbed to 14 police officers, authorities reported early Sunday.
A su!cide bomber and gunmen rammed an explosives-packed vehicle into the post late Saturday, sparking a fierce shootout and building collapse in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near Afghanistan.
Rescue Efforts and Manhunt Underway
Rescuers used heavy machinery for hours to recover bodies from rubble, with senior police official Sajjad Khan confirming three officers wounded.
Security forces launched a hunt for the attackers, as newly formed Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan—a self-proclaimed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan splinter—claimed responsibility via statement to media.
Rising Militancy Amid Border Tensions
Pakistan faces escalating TTP-linked violence, with Islamabad accusing Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of sheltering the group—a charge Kabul rejects.
Cross-border clashes persist despite China-mediated peace talks in April, though at reduced intensity since late February.