At least nine personnel of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps sustained injuries on Tuesday morning in a drone-borne improvised explosive device (IED) attack on the ISD Takhtikhel post, located along the strategic frontier between Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts, adjacent to North Waziristan.
According to official sources, the assault occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. when a quadcopter, reportedly launched from militant-controlled territory, released an explosive device over the forward security installation. The blast inflicted shrapnel injuries on several soldiers stationed at the site.
Three personnel from a deployed platoon of FC Bannu and six members of the Frontier Corps were among those wounded. The injured were given immediate first aid at the post and subsequently evacuated in official military transport to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Bannu by 8:00 a.m. Medical staff confirmed that all nine soldiers were in stable condition.
In retaliation, security forces at the post returned fire with over 150 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. A comprehensive search and clearance operation was launched in the surrounding region to identify the launch point of the drone and track down those responsible.
Security officials described the use of drone-mounted IEDs as a serious development in the evolving tactics of militant outfits operating in the region. “This form of attack reflects a calculated shift towards technologically enabled asymmetrical warfare,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.0
The Takhtikhel post lies in a high-risk corridor where militant infiltration attempts and cross-border threats remain a persistent challenge. The latest incident underscores the growing sophistication of hostile actors and the urgency of enhancing surveillance and counter-drone measures.. The Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps have reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding national security and vowed to respond decisively to any act of aggression against state forces.
