RAWALPINDI — A Pakistan Army lieutenant colonel and a sepoy were martyred after a vehicle-borne suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a security forces convoy during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the convoy was targeted on February 21 while security forces were conducting an operation against militants, including a suspected suicide bomber, in the area.

According to the statement, the leading group of the convoy intercepted the suicide bomber, foiling an attempt to target civilians and law enforcement personnel in Bannu city. During the exchange of fire that followed, five militants were killed.

However, the ISPR said the attacker rammed the explosive-laden vehicle into one of the security vehicles, resulting in the martyrdom of Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz, 43, a resident of Mansehra, and Sepoy Karamat Shah, 28, a resident of Peshawar.

The military described Lt Col Faraz as a brave commanding officer who was leading his troops from the front at the time of the attack.

The ISPR alleged that the militants were operating from Afghan soil and said such activities continued despite the holy month of Ramadan. It added that operations against those involved would continue under the broader counterterrorism campaign.

The statement said the armed forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating what it termed foreign-sponsored terrorism, under the national counterterrorism framework approved by the Federal Apex Committee.