Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Kills 12 Troops

A suicide bombing at a security post in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulted in the deaths of at least 12 security personnel and injured several others. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which involved a vehicle loaded with explosives. This incident marks one of the deadliest attacks in recent months, occurring amidst a surge in violence following the end of a cease-fire agreement between the Pakistani Taliban and the government in November 2022. The Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, have grown increasingly emboldened since the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan in 2021, with many of their leaders operating from there. In response to the escalating violence, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a comprehensive military operation against various separatist groups. The attack coincided with a meeting of the country's political and military leaders in Islamabad to address the rising threat from militants.