Security Crisis in Pakistan: Suicide Blasts Leave 9 Dead, 25 Injured at Army Base
- Afghanistan International Affairs Pakistan South Asia
Shreya Naskar- 0
- 5 minutes read
Bannu, Pakistan – Two suicide bombers affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group launched a deadly attack on a military base in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday evening. The attackers drove explosive-laden vehicles into an army compound in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, triggering massive explosions that killed at least nine civilians, including three children and two women, and injured 25 others. According to police reports, the attack caused significant destruction, leaving behind craters and damaging at least eight houses in the vicinity. After the initial blasts, security forces engaged in a firefight with the attackers, killing six additional militants. An intelligence official revealed that a total of 12 militants attempted to storm the military compound after the suicide bombers detonated their explosives. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group (HGB) later claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that their fighters had infiltrated a “high-value target” but provided no further details.
Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group: The Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group (HGB) is a militant faction of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), primarily based in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the group has historically maintained ties with the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network, assisting in attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan.In recent years, HGB has increased its focus on targeting Pakistani security forces. Some of its major attacks include:
- March 16, 2024 – A military post in North Waziristan was attacked, leading to the deaths of seven Pakistani soldiers and six militants.
- July 15, 2024 – A suicide bombing at an army cantonment in Bannu killed eight soldiers and injured 141 people.
Given its growing threat, Pakistan’s National Counterterrorism Authority (NACTA) designated HGB as a terrorist organization on July 31, 2024. The group’s resurgence and its ties with the TTP have further complicated the security situation in Pakistan’s tribal regions. Tuesday’s attack follows a recent suicide bombing at an Islamic religious school in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where six people were killed. This attack was suspected to be carried out by Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), a rival of the Afghan Taliban. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), 2023 was the deadliest year in a decade, with over 1,600 casualties due to terrorist attacks. The Pakistani government has repeatedly accused the Taliban-led Afghan government of harbouring militants who use Afghan soil to stage attacks against Pakistan—a charge that Kabul denies. The deteriorating security situation remains a major challenge for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts. The twin suicide bombings in Bannu highlight the growing militant threat in Pakistan’s northwest. With the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group escalating its attacks and the TTP and ISKP operating in the region, Pakistan faces an increasingly complex security environment. The government’s ability to counter these groups while managing diplomatic tensions with Afghanistan will be crucial in the coming months.
