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Explosion kills 20 in Bannu; TTP claims attack
PESHAWAR: A bombing, targeting a security forces convoy, killed 20 people and injured 30 others near Razmak gate in Cantt area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu district on Sunday. The Pakistani Taliban claimed the attack.
An ISPR spokesman said that in the attack, 20 security personnel were killed and 30 were injured.
Speaking to CNN, Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman for the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed that the militant organisation was responsible for the attack and said that their attacks on security forces would continue.
On the other hand, intelligence sources say that a convoy, comprising military and civilian vehicles, was ready to move towards Miramshah in the North Waziristan tribal region from a ground near Razmak Gate in Cantt area of Bannu when the explosion occurred in one of the coaches.
The sources added that the explosives were planted in one of the vehicles hired from a private party.
Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan condemning the incident has sought a report from the Inspector General of Frontier Corps with the details related to the hiring of the private vehicles for transportation.
Emergency and security forces reached the attack site and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital. Those killed in the attack included civilians and security forces personnel.
Moreover, security forces cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went underway.
Within hours of the attack, the TTP spokesman said that the Taliban were ready for meaningful dialogue, however, the government should show its sincerity.
The northwestern town of Bannu, which stands at the gateway to the semi-autonomous Waziristan tribal region, is 150 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, the capital of KP.
The town has witnessed a number of attacks and was the scene of a massive jail break in April 2012 during which 384 prisoners escaped from its central prison.
Comments (41) Closed
Imran Khan wants coexist with these thugs and all of Imran Khan's supporters are ok with it.
Shame on the Govt for still holding a dialogue with these terror monsters. They are brutally killing innocent civilians and security forces.
After all this bloodshed, I have 1 question to ask from Chadhry Nisar and the government!!
"You still want to talk to these blood suckers or ruthless monsters?
And the government wants to talk with these terrorist ?????
After all this bloodshed i have one question from our Government and Army you still support the taliban as a proxy in afghanistan. stop it to live in peace
As long as brothers do the killing all is fine. God forbid if the Drone kills a terrorist there is lot of sobbing that an Asset has been liquidated. Difficult to say if the present Political dispensation represents the Taliban or citizens of Pakistan, the victims.
@Syed: PTI wants to talk with these terrorists.
Does anyone know what happened to the defenders (difa e council of Pakistan) of Pakistan? How come they are not fighting these TTP guys? Friends I reckon.
Must not talk to these murderes. Bring them to justice
Shame on all those who still want to hold dialogue with these monsters!
'They(Taliban) are our own people'..says the federal information minister. I would have loved to hear his remarks if his own son had been killed by these murderers.
Talk is the best way to subdue these hardcore LOL!. Even if talks bear fruit it will be temporary, Can Pakistan co exist with these hardened militants, NO. The only basis of talks with them is they should surrender & lay down arms.
now the pakistani govt need to launch a massive operation against these animals and as a pakistani we need to fully support our security forces.
PML (N) is losing us this war. 22 soldiers dying is unacceptable to me.
@abdulaziz: Also, these murderers have the sympathy of most of our more religious ;brothers'.
Whether we like it or not, without American help & involvement we would not be able to defeat these fanatics.Ask Americans to drone men like Shahidullah Shahid.
NS and Ch. Nisar your tenure will prove last days of Pakistan.
THose who lost their lives in this tragic incident are in our prayers. I am not sure if Nawaz Sharief is capable of fixing the mess we are in. We need a brutal leader who has courage to stand up and deal with this challenge that requires some serious blooshed to send a strongest message to the Talibans and eliminating all Madassas who are producing illiterate generations. Otherwise, Pakistan will soon become Afghanistan. Shriah enforcement, what Taliban want, is a fantasy that can only destroy whatever is left in Pakistan.
Peace talk is an illusion as far as these insurgents are concerned. It is time to get rid of this illusion and taken on them till a logical conclusion. Peace talks can be held later, first they should be decimated.
Kill the Talibans before they will kill you. Try the pending cases in military courts and give them what they deserve as soon as possible. The jail breaks would end and they will get the message. They are the worst enemy of Pakistan and its people, now you have to give them a fair treatment. May Allah bless the departed souls. They died in performing their duty to the homeland, Pakistan. My heart goes out to the families of these soldiers. Please support the families in the best way you can, with education, jobs and pension.
"Within hours of the attack, the TTP spokesman said that the Taliban were ready for meaningful dialogue, ..." I urge the government to bring in the heavy guns and start bombarding TTP mansions to have a 'meaningful' dialogue. The type they understand.
Taliban say that its a revenge attack, but did they forget that when Bannu jail was attacked by them, same security forces stationed at Bannu did not interfere and allowed them to complete their mission. Is this they way they return a favour?
@GA: Where were you when 'their women & children' were being killed / bombarded by the thousands?
now I hear pain in Pakistani brothers voices.............when same thing is done to India and Afghanistan .........we should have similar concern
I condemn this act of barbarism.Prayers go out to the families of those who have departed and also for my Pakistani brothers and sisters who face this problem day in and day out. May God be with them
My condolences to the families of the brave young men who did not even have the chance to defend themselves. The target coach was a hired one. I hope that the inquiry team will ask the question, why was that coach not properly searched before brave soldiers were ordered to board it.
TTP are neither muslim, human beings or civilised. They are animals of the worst kind.
Shame on Pak military for refusing to launch decisive operations who are killing/beheading soldiers, General and civilians. Why billions are spent on this incompetent and unprofessional army who can neither fight militants nor save the innocent civilians which is their national and sacred duty ?
This news is nothing to new to us. So Why everyone is sounding so frustration about it and mind you we do have some thumbs down in comments as well. These things will keep on happening unless Pakistan military wage a full fledged war against them just like the on going war in Syria. Go ahead give me thumbs down but this is a reality.
@AHA: Yes, that is true. I don't understand why educated Pakistanis (PTI supporters) want to coexist with these terrorists. Also, do you know why difa e council of Pakistan never comments on TTP terrorism, while they keep harping on India although India is not a threat?
@GA: That is not gonna happen because Imran Khan and his supporters will have a peace dialog and they will share govt with TTP.
I do not understand what effect would a statement of condemnation by Ch. Nisar Ali khan would have on the TTP brutes. The only language they understand is of violence. Warn them of reciprocal violence. If Pak armed forces are incapable of dealing with them provide US with intelligence and ask for its drones.
Offer of meaningful talk should be accepted and should start negotiations with talibans as soon as possible. This is the only alternative as Pakistan government, political parties , army and religious leaders are not in favour of direct confrontation with their brothers talibans.
There should be absolutely no talks held with the "cancer" of TTP. These are killers and need to be hunt down with all the resources at disposal.
It is the height of brutality, I don't know to what extent these terrorists will go and to the what extent Government of Pakistan and Pak Army will leniency, tolerance and/or weakness to deal with this situation. I don't understand to whom the GOP wants to negotiate, those who are not accepting our constitution, killing our innocent civilian & soldiers to demoralize our Army. They are attacking our religious (Masajids' Imambargahs, and churches) places of worships and killing innocent and poor worshipers, and our government is begging for negotiation with these terrorists. Those Pakistanis who are supporting these terrorists must review their instances.
Severe and decisive military action is the only solution of this problem.
Negotiation with just TTP won't yield any results, we should negotiate with their backers, otherwise they will draw more and more blood
Enough is enough Nawaz Sharif , please show some leadership, take some tough decisions.
@abdulaziz: Every Political Party wants to have Dialogue with them according to APC ( all four of them ), please do not mislead yourself
People are living in a cuckoo land, do you really think that TTP will give up terrorist activities, they generate their salaries through intimidation, death. looting, snatching, would they close their secret hide out and offices especially in Karachi. well, I am seeing some elefants fly!
I know its tough to see it this way right now, but every problem is a potential opportunity. May be its an opportunity to set Pakistan right, once and for all. Now no half measures will do. No excuses and no lies.
Good luck Pakistan!
I am sure Imran and Munawar Hussain are not aware of this.