ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Fitna Al Khawarij group, led by Kharji Gul Bahadur, has emerged as the key perpetrator of the deadly and unfortunate suicide attack on Fateh Khel police post in Bannu, which claimed the lives of 15 police personnel.
Security sources said that this attack came out of frustration and deep despair faced by India and its master proxy Afghanistan after Pakistan’s remarkable achievements in Marka e Haq and Ghazab lil Haq.
Sources said that the Kharji Gul Bahadur group’s affiliate IMP has claimed responsibility for the attack, adding that Kharji Gul Bahadur and his cohorts are based in Afghanistan under the protection of the Afghan Taliban Regime
It added that the KGB in Afghanistan, under the patronage of the Afghan Taliban, has masterminded this attack.
Fateh Khel police post attack
On 9 May, a Zaranj rickshaw approached Fateh Khel police post about 5 km southwest of Bannu Cantt. Once challenged outside the post, the rickshaw exploded.
The explosion was so powerful that the main building of the police post collapsed. Out of the 18 personnel deployed, 15 brave sons embraced Shahadat while 3 were injured.
Only 2 died of gunshot wounds, whereas the remaining 13 were buried under the rubble, security sources said.
As soon as the attack occurred, the Army’s Quick Response Force (QRF) from Bannu Cantt was the first to respond, reach the site, and carry out casualty evacuation.
It was also delayed by a few hours due to 6 roadblocks placed by Khawarij terrorists between the Kinger Bridge police post and the attacked Fateh Khel police post, 1.8 km apart, just before the attack; however, this had not been reported or picked up by the local police posts, sources said.
Local dynamics in Bannu
The local dynamics of the area are such that PTI, JUI, and PTM enjoy varying spheres of influence.
Local MNA Naseem Shah, MPAs Zahid Ullah and Pakhtoon Yar are all from PTI. MPAs Akram Durrani (son-in-law of Fazlur Rehman) and Adnan Wazir are from JUI- F.
All three parties, especially PTI and PTM, have deliberately confused the political and security narrative for vested interests.
After the suicide attack on Bannu Cantt in July 2024, they orchestrated a so-called ‘Aman Pasoom’. Instead of condemning the incident and standing in solidarity with the Army, this forum was used to target the State and the Army.
To make matters worse, a charged crowd tried to force entry into Bannu Cantt, including stone pelting and even the use of firearms. This was very professionally handled, and crowds were dispersed without any major incident.
This narrative confusion is also created about the Afghan Taliban when the PTI political leadership refuses to accept the Afghan Taliban Regime for who they really are, the Mother Terrorist Organisation from where the bulk of terrorist attacks against Pakistan emanate.
Another aspect is that of local support, which KGB enjoys in the suburbs of Bannu, especially Jani Khel. Such a major terrorist incident cannot be carried out without local support, sources said.
The larger question is why this support, and the answer lies in deliberate disinformation propagated by political parties and PTM that confuses the masses.
Aman Pasoom exposed
Security sources further added that a key narrative peddled during the Aman Pasoom is of the ‘good Taliban’ and that these are patronised by the Army.
All Army formations and units under command have clear instructions to have no such distinction and fight these terrorists without discrimination. ‘The only good Taliban is a dead Taliban,’ sources added.
During the Aman Pasoom in July 2024, the PTM was led by some disgruntled and disgraced police individuals who had been dismissed on disciplinary grounds. They were the main instigators supported by local PTI leadership.
Subsequently, some disgruntled and corrupt police elements also formed a pressure group in the Lakki police not to fight the terrorists but for their personal gains and narrow interests.
Sources further said that after the Fateh Khel attack, there is again a small group of disgruntled and corrupt policemen who are trying to create a pressure group.
This group is again backed by PTM to sow discord in a professional outfit like the KP Police. Again, the aim of such disgruntled elements is not better policing or a more effective fight against terrorists, but personal aggrandisement and perks so as to gain control over the posting/ transfers and the corruption chain.
