COAS General Munir vows to bring Bannu attack planners to justice

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has vowed to bring those responsible for planning and aiding the deadly Bannu Cantonment attack to justice, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday.

This comes after security forces successfully stopped a terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday. The attack, carried out by militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), resulted in the deaths of all 16 attackers. However, in the process, five soldiers were martyred while defending the facility, said the ISPR.

The attack also caused significant damage, with at least thirteen civilians killed and 32 others injured due to suicide bombings during the clash.

On the same day, General Munir visited Bannu to review the situation after the foiled attack. He was briefed about the ongoing operations and the overall security in the area. The COAS also visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Bannu to check on the soldiers who were injured in the clash, praising their bravery and commitment.

General Munir expressed his condolences to the families of the innocent civilians who lost their lives in the terrorist attack and assured that while the attackers had been quickly neutralized by the army, the individuals responsible for planning and supporting the attack would be brought to justice.

He also condemned the attack, pointing out that targeting civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, revealed the true nature of TTP terrorists as enemies of Islam.

During his visit, the COAS highlighted the importance of national unity in fighting terrorism. He reassured the people of Pakistan that the army would continue to work hard to protect the country’s security.

The COAS praised the troops for their swift and decisive actions in responding to the attackers, which helped prevent further damage and loss of life. He stressed that the fight against TTP and their supporters, who are backed by hostile forces, would continue until they were fully defeated.

General Munir also pointed out that the TTP and other terrorist groups still operate from Afghan territory and that the use of foreign weapons in recent attacks showed that Afghanistan remains a safe haven for such groups. He reaffirmed that no one would be allowed to threaten Pakistan's peace and stability.