Bannu (Web Desk): A soldier of Frontier Corps (FC) was martyred and three others were injured following a drone strike on a security checkpost in the Takhti Khel Bakakhel area in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), police reported on Friday.
District Police Officer (DPO) Bannu Saleem Abbas Kulachi stated that a quadcopter drone released an explosive device onto the FC checkpoint, causing fatal injuries to one soldier and leaving three more wounded.
The injured personnel were immediately transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
In the aftermath of the assault, a coordinated search operation was initiated by FC forces and the police to hunt down those responsible for the attack.
Simultaneously, authorities enforced an indefinite curfew in the Havid region of Bannu. This measure was taken to facilitate an extensive military operation aimed at flushing out militants.
According to DPO Kulachi, the crackdown followed credible intelligence confirming the presence of armed insurgents in the area.
Local residents have been instructed to stay indoors starting from 5 am, until further notice.
The DPO also issued a stern warning that anyone found aiding or hiding terrorists would face severe legal action.
It is increasingly evident that militant groups are turning to drones as a method of assault, especially in Bannu and other parts of southern KP.
Prior to the adoption of drone attacks, these groups had been using advanced thermal imaging rifles, often during nighttime operations, to target law enforcement from concealed positions. These weapons, equipped with heat-detecting scopes, are suspected to have originated from Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO forces.
In response to the growing threat of aerial attacks, the KP police last month acquired an advanced anti-drone system. This technology is designed to identify and disable unauthorized drones from a significant distance.
According to sources, it will primarily be deployed to secure vital government infrastructure, protect high-profile individuals, and ensure safety at major public gatherings.