Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist attacks over the past year, with militant groups targeting security forces, civilians, and foreign nationals. The latest attack occurred on Tuesday evening in ‘Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where twin suicide bombings struck a military base, killing “at least 12 people, including seven children, and injuring “30 others. The “Pakistani Taliban-affiliated group Jaish Al-Fursan* claimed responsibility for the attack.

Wave of Violence Across Pakistan

The past year has seen more than ’10 major terrorist incidents, resulting in over”400 deaths” and ‘600 injuries. In “January 2023, a suicide bomber targeted a “Peshawar mosque, killing “over 100 people, mostly police officers. In “September 2023, a “suicide bombing in Mastung’ left ‘at least 60 dead’ during a religious procession.

In November 2023, militants attempted to storm “Mianwali Air Base, leading to a shootout that killed “nine attackers. February 2024 saw the “targeted killing of five Chinese nationals’ in ‘Besham’, heightening concerns over the safety of foreign workers in Pakistan.

Government and Public Reaction

Prime Minister ‘Shehbaz Sharif’ strongly condemned the ‘Bannu suicide bombings, calling them a “cowardly act of terrorism” and vowing swift action. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister “Ali Amin Gandapur’ has also expressed his condolences to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, in Bannu, ‘schools and markets have shut down’ as the community prepares for funeral ceremonies.

Despite government efforts to curb militancy, ‘Pakistan’s security situation remains volatile, with ongoing threats from extremist factions like the “Pakistani Taliban, Jaish Al-Fursan, and ISIL-affiliated groups’. With attacks becoming more frequent, concerns are growing over the country’s ability to control the rising tide of terrorism.