In the bloodiest attack of the year, 23 soldiers died in Pakistan

In the most lethal assault on security forces this year, at least 23 Pakistan Army soldiers were killed, and over 30 troops were injured as militants associated with Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) attacked a military compound in Dera Ismail Khan’s Daraban area early Tuesday.

The assailants, identified as six militants, were killed during the attack. Concurrently, two military operations in Dara zi nda and Kolachi resulted in the demise of 21 militants and claimed the lives of two soldiers, as per the military’s media wing statement. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the militants stormed a security post in Daraban early Tuesday, but their attempt was thwarted. Subsequently, explosions occurred as militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the gate, followed by a suicide bombing. The resulting explosion led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties. All six militants were engaged and killed.

According to sources, well-prepared troops were stationed at a school compound near the Daraban police station for search and strike operations in an area experiencing a surge in militancy over the past month. An explosive-laden vehicle cleared the way for militants to enter the building, with subsequent suicide blasts reported inside the school. The Bomb Disposal Squad estimated the use of over 100kg of high-grade explosives in the attack, which persisted for more than an hour. The deceased and wounded were transported to the Combined Military Hospital in D.I. Khan Cantonment by Rescue 1122 officials.

The military reported the elimination of seventeen terrorists in Darazinda and the disruption of their hideout. In another operation in Kulachi on the same night, four more militants were killed, resulting in the loss of two soldiers. This brought the total number of soldiers martyred in the district to twenty-five, as per the statement.

TJP claimed responsibility for the attack and released a purported video showing militants targeting security personnel with thermal scopes. However, security officials contested the authenticity of the video. The TJP spokesperson stated that the four bombers involved hailed from Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, and Mardan districts, challenging Pakistan's recent claims about the involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist attacks.

Police sources noted increased militant activities of the Tipu Gul and Gandapur groups in the Daraban area, allying to carry out coordinated attacks in Dera Ismail Khan and adjacent districts. The security official indicated that the leadership of these groups, based in Afghanistan, orchestrated the attacks from the neighboring country. Tepu Gul Marwat, associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, was reportedly assassinated in Afghanistan’s Kunar province on October 11.