Three Afghan nationals were among five suicide bombers who attacked a Pakistani security forces base in the border district of Bannu last week, security sources told Afghanistan International.
The attackers were identified as Abdul Aziz, known as Qasid Mohajer; Shabir Ahmad, also called Mawlawi Bilal Mohajer, from Saidabad district in Maidan Wardak; and Najibullah, known as Haziqa, from Khost province. Aziz was reportedly from Mata Khan district in Paktika.
Pakistani authorities have not confirmed the identities of the assailants.
A video obtained by Afghanistan International showed one of the attackers saying he was prepared to “sacrifice himself in the path of God” in Pakistan and calling on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to facilitate his mission. He said he was based in Bahramcha, Helmand province.
Pakistani police said six security personnel and six militants were killed when gunmen stormed the base on Tuesday. Militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the compound wall before entering and engaging forces in a firefight that lasted 12 hours. Sixteen security personnel and three civilians were wounded.
The tactics mirrored those used by the Afghan Taliban during their insurgency against the former Afghan government and US forces, including suicide bombings and car bombs.
On Friday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry dismissed recent remarks by Taliban Defence Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, who criticised the Pakistani army’s capacity to fight insurgents. The ministry said his comments were “taunts and jibes” that could not obscure the presence of TTP safe havens in Afghanistan.
Islamabad has long accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to anti-government militants. The Taliban has repeatedly denied that TTP or other foreign groups operate from Afghan soil.
International organisations estimate that about 6,000 TTP fighters are currently in Afghanistan, where they are believed to train at established bases.
