Security forces on Saturday thwarted a major terror plot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district by defusing a large quantity of explosive material planted along a main road in the Baka Khel Ahmadzai area, officials said.
According to security sources, the explosive material was concealed inside a drum and placed on a busy thoroughfare, posing a serious threat to civilians and traffic movement. Bomb disposal personnel successfully neutralized the device, preventing what authorities said could have been large-scale casualties and damage.
The operation was carried out after security forces detected the suspicious object during routine vigilance in the area. Following the defusal, the surrounding locality was secured and cleared, averting any immediate danger to residents.
The attempted attack comes amid a series of militant incidents in Bannu Division, including the recent destruction of a public-use bridge in North Waziristan and the torching of heavy machinery at a development site in Bannu district. Those incidents had heightened fears of escalating militant activity targeting both civilian infrastructure and development projects.
Security officials said such attempts reflect continued efforts by Fitna al-Khwarij to destabilize the region through attacks on public spaces and essential infrastructure. Authorities reiterated that coordinated operations, public cooperation, and sustained vigilance remain key to countering the threat.
An investigation into the foiled plot is under way, while security across sensitive areas of Bannu and its adjoining districts has been further tightened.
