At least eight security personnel were killed after terrorists targeted Bannu Cantonment in Pakistan on Monday.

According to reports, 10 terrorists were killed in retaliatory fire.

According to a press release issued by the military’s media wing today, an attempt by 10 terrorists to enter Bannu Cantonment in the early hours of Monday was 'effectively thwarted' by security forces personnel, 'which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive laden vehicle into perimeter wall of the cantonment', reported Dawn News.

Resultantly, the suicide blast caused a portion of a wall to collapse and damaged infrastructure, resulting in the martyrdom of eight security forces, it said.

The deceased security force members were identified as Naib Subedar Muhammad Shehzad, 44; Havildar Zil-e-Hussain, 39; Havildar Shahzad Ahmed, 28; Sepoy Ashfaq Hussain Khan, 30; Sepoy Sobhan Majeed, 22; Sepoy Imtiaz Khan, 30; Sepoy Arsalan Aslam, 26, belonging to the Pakistan Army as well as Lance Naik Sabz Ali, 34, of the Frontier Constabulary.

“In the ensuing operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists as a result of which all ten terrorists were sent to hell,” the statement said.

Pakistan is witnessing an uptick in terrorist activities in the past year.

The spike in activities is especially being witnessed in  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Terror activities increased after banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.