Pakistan Summons Taliban Envoy Over Bannu Attack Killing 15

Pakistan summoned the Taliban chargé d'affaires in Islamabad on Monday to protest a suicide bombing and gun attack on a police checkpoint in Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, that killed 15 police officers and wounded four others late Saturday.

The assault targeted the Fateh Khel checkpoint, where attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the site before gunmen opened fire, sparking a prolonged shootout. Local police reported that some officers died in the exchange, while others perished when part of the building collapsed. The checkpoint was destroyed, and nearby structures sustained damage. A group calling itself Ittehadul-Mujahideen Pakistan, which Pakistani authorities describe as a front for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stated that a detailed investigation, supported by evidence and technical intelligence, indicated the attack was masterminded by terrorists based in Afghanistan. During the meeting with Sardar Ahmad Shakib, the ministry conveyed Islamabad's strong concerns over Afghan territory being used for attacks against Pakistan. It reserved the right to respond decisively to such acts and...