Colonel, sepoy martyred, 5 Indian-proxy terrorists killed in deadly Bannu attack

• Forces foil major catastrophe by intercepting a vehicle-borne suicide bomber designed to target innocent civilians/law enforcement personnel in Bannu City

• ISPR reiterates terrorists ‘using Afghan soil’ for carrying out attacks inside Pakistan,’ violating sanctity of holy month of Ramazan

• Security sources confirm ‘Ittihad Al-Mujahideen,’ a sub-group of Fitna Al-Khawarij behind deadly attack

• Over 70% of terror elements in Pakistan linked to Afghanistan-based networks

• Afghan Taliban’s backing of terrorists sabotages regional peace and security

 RAWALPINDI: A lieutenant colonel and a sepoy were martyred in a suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Saturday, the military’s media wing said.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the security forces’ convoy was “targeted by Indian proxy Fitna al Khawarij” while an IBO was being conducted on the reported presence of terrorists, including a suicide bomber.

🚨#ISPR
Rawalpindi, 21 February, 2026

On 21 February, in a cowardly attack, Security Forces convoy was targeted by #India proxy Fitna al Khwarij in Bannu District, #Pakistan while an intelligence based operation was being conducted on reported presence of Khwarij including a… pic.twitter.com/Ph8zCK4rmQ

— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) February 21, 2026

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The military’s media wing added that five terrorists were also killed during the operation.

“A vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading group, foiling his nefarious design to target innocent civilians/law enforcement personnel in Bannu City, averting major catastrophe,” the ISPR stated.

It added that the terrorists were located during the operation and after an “intense fire exchange, five khwarij were sent to hell by the security forces”.

The statement added: “However, in desperation, khwarij rammed the explosive-laden vehicle into one of the vehicles of the leading group.”

Resultantly, 43-year-old Lt Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz, hailing from Mansehra, whom the ISPR described as a “brave commanding officer renowned for his daring actions, who was leading his troops from the front”, and 28-year-old Sepoy Karamat Shah from Peshawar, embraced martyrdom.

‘Ittihad Al-Mujahideen’ claims responsibility

Security sources on Saturday confirmed that “Ittihad Al-Mujahideen,” a sub-group of Fitna Al-Khawarij, claimed responsibility for the recent suicide attack in Bannu, highlighting the ongoing cross-border threat emanating from Afghan soil, according to state broadcaster PTV News.

In a post on X, PTV News, citing security officials, reported that Ittihad Al-Mujahideen operates under the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of Fitna Al-Khawarij.

بنوں خودکش حملے کی ذمہ داری فتنہ الخوارج کے ذیلی گروہ اتحاد المجاہدین نے قبول کر لی، سیکیورٹی ذرائع

اتحاد المجاہدین کا تعلق فتنہ الخوارج کے حافظ گل بہادر گروپ سے ہے

اس گروہ کا مرکزی سرغنہ گل بہادر اور اس کے اہم کمانڈر افغانستان میں پناہ لیے ہوئے ہیں

حافظ گل بہادر گروپ… pic.twitter.com/81tCCxyPTO

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) February 21, 2026

“The central leader, Gul Bahadur, and key commanders are taking refuge in Afghanistan and have repeatedly used Afghan territory to orchestrate terrorism and sow sedition in Pakistan,” the post said.

The report highlighted a history of attacks linked to the group. On 4 March 2025, during the holy month of Ramazan, the same group carried out an assault on Bannu Cantonment, planned from Afghan soil. On 2 September 2025, during another attack on the Federal Constabulary in Bannu, Major Adnan Shaheed was martyred while bravely countering the assault.

The group has also claimed responsibility for multiple terrorist incidents in North and South Waziristan, including attacks in Mir Ali, with investigations confirming that planning and facilitation were carried out from Afghanistan, the PTV News said.

Security sources stressed that the presence of central Fitna Al-Khawarij leaders, including Hafiz Gul Bahadur, in Afghanistan demonstrates that Afghan soil continues to provide a sanctuary for terrorists. They pointed out that the Afghan Taliban regime’s backing of terrorist networks undermines regional peace and security.

Investigations reveal that over 70 percent of individuals involved in terrorism in Pakistan are either of Afghan origin or connected to Afghan-based networks, according to the sources. They expressed concern that the Afghan Taliban’s continued patronage of terrorists is sabotaging efforts to maintain stability in the region.

The ISPR statement reiterated that terrorists were “using Afghan soil” for carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, “violating the sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan”.

“This clearly indicates that they have no link with Islam,” the ISPR declared.

It also noted that the “Afghan Taliban Regime has yet again failed to stop the khwarij from use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities inside Pakistan, that too in the holy month of Ramazan”.

“Pakistan will not exercise any restrain and operations would continue against the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act for justified retribution against khwarij, irrespective of their location,” the ISPR asserted.

The military’s media wing added that the counter-terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan “will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”.

“Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment [to] safeguarding our nation at all costs,” the military affirmed.

President, PM vow to completely eliminate terrorism

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attack on the convoy of security forces in Bannu.

In their separate statements, they expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of Lieutenant Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah.

Paying tribute to the sacrifices of security forces, the President emphasized that there is a firm resolve that operations against the Khawarij will continue relentlessly and without discrimination, and there will be no compromise on the safety and security of the nation.

He said terrorists who desecrate the sanctity of Ramadan have no connection with Islam.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the terrorism by Fitna al Khawarij during the sacred month of Ramadan is proof that terrorists have no religion.

Shehbaz Sharif said the security forces took timely action, preventing the city from a major disaster. He said the entire nation stands with the armed forces in the war against terrorism. He said we are determined to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country.