Pakistani authorities have identified the suicide bombers behind the Darul Uloom Haqqania and Bannu cantonment attacks, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed announced on Friday. The development comes as investigators analyze CCTV footage and forensic evidence to track the origins of the attackers.
Foreign weapons, deadly assault
The Bannu attack, which claimed the lives of five soldiers and 13 civilians, involved foreign weapons and a well-planned assault. Investigators have traced the vehicles used and are working to determine how the attackers infiltrated the region. Sixteen militants were killed during the attack, but questions remain about their network and handlers.
Meanwhile, a powerful blast at Darul Uloom Haqqania, a renowned madrassa in Akora Khattak, left a top cleric and four worshippers dead, with several others injured.
Terror links & Kurram crackdown
Authorities are probing whether the suicide bombers had links outside Pakistan and how they managed to cross borders undetected. In a separate operation, security forces arrested over 100 suspects linked to recent violence in Kurram, an area plagued by sectarian and militant activity.
Acknowledging the role of terrorism in the Kurram violence, IG Hameed assured that a new security strategy was being developed to prevent further attacks. He expressed confidence that “sustainable peace will soon be established.”
Compensation & safe city project
Families of the Bannu attack victims have been given PKR 1 million each in compensation. In a broader move to tighten security, authorities have approved the Safe City Project, expected to be completed within months.
As investigations continue, Pakistan remains on high alert, with officials bracing for further threats amid rising militant activity.