Suicide attack on Pakistan army outpost kills 12 soldiers
A deadly suicide attack targeting a military outpost in northwest Pakistan killed 12 soldiers, the country's armed forces reported on Wednesday.
The attack occurred on Tuesday in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where militants used an explosives-laden vehicle to breach the perimeter wall of the outpost, causing significant damage to the surrounding infrastructure, according to a statement from the military's media wing.
'Sanitization operations are underway in the area, and those responsible for this heinous act will face justice,' the statement said. It also confirmed that six militants had been killed during the operation.
While the military did not name the attackers directly, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group later claimed responsibility for the assault.
Pakistan continues to grapple with an uptick in militant activity in its northwest, a region known for its rugged terrain, as well as a growing ethnic separatist insurgency in the southwest.
In response to escalating violence, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a new military campaign on Wednesday targeting separatist groups in Balochistan province. The region, bordering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is crucial for China's Belt and Road Initiative projects and has seen a surge in attacks in recent weeks.
The latest violence underscores the challenges facing Pakistan as it contends with both resurgent militant threats and long-standing separatist movements.
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