Pakistan is in shock after a triple taormando suicide bombing at a military base in Bannu in which 18 have died, including the five soldiers, and 42 have been left injured.
The attack, attributed to the militant group Jaish Al-Fursan, affiliated to the Pakistani Taliban, occurred on Tuesday evening as people were breaking their fast during Ramzan. Two trucks packed with explosives were driven into the perimeter wall of the base, causing huge explosions that shattered nearby buildings, including a mosque. Dressed-in-fatigues, armed militants later raided the compound, besieging security for a lengthy gun battle.
The Pakistani evidence side said five soldiers and sixteen militants were killed in the attack. Gunfire persisted into Wednesday as Army and police personnel bulldozed the area and rescue workers salvaged three bodies from the wreckage of the mosque roof, which had collapsed. 
Bannu residents went on a day of mourning with the schools and shops in the area remaining closed in solidarity. Joint funeral prayers for the deceased personals were offered at a sporting complex.
The assault shows the increased militant danger in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where violence has become repeated in the recent months. Meanwhile, a similar incident in Balochistan, a bomb blast in a shop killed three and injured five, whereas an Intel officer was killed in Peshawar.
The spate in attacks has led to worries about security in Pakistan with intensified counter-terrorism measures.
