Suicide attack on a "paramilitary" base in Pakistan leaves 12 dead and 19 injured.

Arab Sea Newspaper - News Updates

Arabian Sea - Follow-ups: Pakistani police announced that 6 security personnel and 6 militants were killed on Tuesday during an attack on a paramilitary base in the northwest of the country, which began with a suicide bomber storming the complex and witnessed a 12-hour gun battle. Sajjad Khan, the region's police chief, said the suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the base's wall in the town of Bannu early Tuesday morning, causing an explosion that allowed other attackers to enter the complex. He added that the attack also resulted in the injury of 16 security personnel and three civilians, noting that the security forces "fought bravely for approximately 12 hours." The city of Bannu is located near the lawless border area with neighboring Afghanistan, which has long been considered a stronghold for extremists. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The police, in a statement, blamed extremists for the attack, without naming any group. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organization for several Sunni Islamic groups, is considered the main group active in the border area, according to "Al-Ain News." The TTP has been waging war on the Pakistani state since 2007 in an attempt to overthrow the government and replace it with one that implements its extremist interpretation of Islamic law. Pakistan says that extremists launch from neighboring Afghanistan, where they train militants and plan attacks, which Kabul denies.