23 soldiers martyred in suicide attack; Kabul told to hand over perpetrators

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD:At least 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom and many others were injured when six suicide bombers rammed an explosive-laden truck into a military base in the troubled Daraban area of Dera Ismail Khan district early Tuesday, according to security officials.

“In early hours of December 12, 2023, a group of six terrorists attacked a security forces post in the Daraban area of Dera Ismail Khan. 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 resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties; twenty-three brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell,” the Inter- Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated in a statement. A little-known militant group, Tehreek-e-Jihad-e-Pakistan (TJP), claimed responsibility for one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistani security forces.

Their spokesman, Mullah Mohammad Qasim, sent a statement to the media, saying a group of their suicide bombers, led by Maulvi Hasan Gandapur, stormed the military compound at 2am. Gandapur reportedly rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the building’s outer walls that caused the main building where the soldiers were residing to collapse.

The militants who took part in the attack on the military camp belonged to DI Khan, Lakki Marwat, Mardan and Swat.

“Most of the casualties took place in the hall that razed to the ground after the explosive-laden truck hit the building,” a senior security official told The News.

Pleading anonymity, he said it was the first explosive-laden attack on troops after the Marriott Hotel explosion in Islamabad. Also, it was the heaviest death toll of the security forces in a single attack in years.

It was a well-coordinated attack as after the vehicle-borne attack, other militants armed with sophisticated weapons and night vision goggles entered the compound and started firing at the troops.

“The soldiers and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police response to the terrorist attack was remarkable. They engaged the terrorists and gunned them down within a short time,” said a security official who monitored the operation in Daraban.

The military had set up the base camp in a police station in the Daraban area of DI Khan to counter the militants and their ever increasing influence in the district.

According to sources, the militants belonging to the Gandapur tribe had been involved in their activities in the area. Among their fellow militants, the Gandapur militants are known to be tough and hardliners.

The military in a statement said the attack came a day after two soldiers were killed in different operations in the same region, along with 21 militants.

“Sansitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area, as 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,” the military media wing said.

It said that an intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted in the general area Darazinda on the reported presence of terrorists. During the conduct of the operation, terrorists’ hideout was busted and 17 terrorists were sent to hell.

In another IBO in the general area in Kulachi area of DI Khan, the troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location as a result of which four terrorists were sent to hell. However, after intense exchange of fire, two brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat, it added.

Before the IBO, the troops engaged local elders to safely evacuate an elderly man, a woman and two children. The militants were later engaged and killed in two hours of battle.

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

The martyrdom of 25 soldiers in a single day has sparked anger and grief among public.

There is strong feeling that there was need to further tighten noose around terrorists attacking from Afghanistan despite all good gesture given to the neighbouring country. Over the months, this year, at least seven senior and young officers and over 140 soldiers have laid their lives in acts of terrorism, coward suicide attacks and during IBOs in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Meanwhile, according to the ISPR statement, the funeral prayers for the 23 brave soldiers, who embraced Shahadat while fighting terrorists, were offered in Daraban in Dera Ismail Khan Garrison.

The corps commander Peshawar along with a large number of serving officers, soldiers, civil officials and public attended the funeral.

Shuhada will be laid to rest with full military honour in their respective hometowns. “Armed Forces of Pakistan stand resolute and committed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the motherland at all cost,” the ISPR statement said.

The military had been engaged in the same region for some time to effectively combat the militants and conducted several IBOs against them.

Meanwhile, following the deadly attack, Pakistan delivered a strong demarche to the Afghan interim government and called for an investigation and strict action against the perpetrators.

Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of Afghan interim government to deliver Pakistan’s strong demarche in the context of Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack in Daraban, and demanded that Kabul apprehend and hand over the perpetrators of the attack and the TTP leadership in Afghanistan to the Government of Pakistan.

“Today’s [Tuesday’s] terrorist attack is yet another reminder of the terrorist threat to peace and stability in the region. We must act resolutely with all our collective might to defeat this menace. On its part, Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to combat terrorism. The attack, whose responsibility has been claimed by Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a terrorist group affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), resulted in multiple causalities, including shahadat of twenty-three security personnel,” said the Foreign Office.

Pakistan has demanded five immediate actions from Kabul and the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires was asked to immediately convey the same to the Afghan interim government.

Apart from handing over the perpetrators and the TTP leadership, Islamabad has asked Kabul to fully investigate and take stern action against perpetrators of the recent attack and publicly condemn the terrorist incident at the highest level.

The senior Afghan diplomat was also told by the foreign secretary that his government should also take immediate verifiable actions against all terrorist groups (including their leadership) and their sanctuaries.

“Take all necessary measures to deny the persistent use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan,” the foreign secretary demanded.

Earlier in a tweet, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jillani said, “Terrorists and their handlers, wherever they are, will pay for their cowardly attacks. Our brave soldiers are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to blunt the nefarious designs of enemies. Heartfelt condolences with families of victims of today [Tuesday]’s attack and prayers for Martyrs.”

Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar condemned the attack, a statement from his office said. “My deepest sympathies with the families of our brave martyrs. We will fight back,” he said later in a social media post on X.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the terrorist incident.

He expressed his grief and sorrow over the martyrdoms in the incident, a Bilawal House communique said.

Bilawal said that attacks on security forces were unforgivable. He urged that the National Action Plan should be implemented to eliminate the nurseries of terrorists. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.