Security forces foiled a terrorist attack in the Bannu cantonment area on Monday, Radio Pakistan reported.

Per the report, terrorists attempted to enter the high-security cantonment area by detonating an explosive-laden vehicle on the road linking the outer wall of the cantonment with the supply depot.

“Security forces foiled the terrorists’ attempt by taking timely action […] and have started a clearance operation,” the report said.

Area locals told Dawn.com that they heard two explosions near the cantonment at about 4:40am, followed by the sound of gunshots. They said houses and shops located near the site of the explosions were damaged following the blasts, adding that casualties are feared.

While the government has yet to release the details of casualties, a spokesperson for the government hospitals in Bannu, Muhammad Numan, told Dawn.com that eight people were left wounded in the attack.

“Naheed Bibi, 55, who was injured due to firing, was shifted to Peshawar,” he said, adding that others with minor injuries were discharged after treatment.

“Three women were injured due to firing while fragments from the blast also landed in their homes,” he added.

Other people who sustained injuries included Sawera Bibi, 25, Bakawar Bibi, 26, Jamila Bibi, 30, Sunbul,9, Maria, 5, Esa, 3, and Anwar Ali, 9.

Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.

Last week, Islamabad once again ruled out the possibility of any talks with the TTP and reiterated that Kabul must act against terrorists operating on its soil.

According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan saw 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 — marking a record six-year high.

KP and Balochistan were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84 per cent of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations.