One dead, three injured in suspected drone attacks in Bannu

BANNU: A woman was killed, and three others were injured in a drone attack in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said on Wednesday.

“One drone fell on the Merian police station while the other fell on a house,” police said, adding that the incident took place at night, killing a woman and injuring three others.

Meanwhile, a police station was targeted in the morning, resulting in some damage to solar panels.

The injured were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Bannu.

According to the police, a quadcopter drone was used to attack the residence and the police station.

The police have launched a search operation in both the areas.

It is worth mentioning here that the terrorists have been using quadcopter drones for attacks and this was the fourth attack in Bannu in which several people were injured.

Last month, in a move to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police acquired a state-of-the-art anti-drone system aimed at neutralizing aerial threats.

He added that the system will be used to detect and disable unauthorized drones from a considerable distance.

According to inside sources, the anti-drone system will be deployed to protect important government buildings, public figures and important public events.

According to officials, militant groups use drones to carry out attacks in areas including North Waziristan and parts of South KP.

Pakistan saw a slight increase in militant attacks in May 2025, even as military tensions with neighboring India failed to significantly increase violence by extremist groups.

Data released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) indicated a 5 percent increase in attacks compared to April, although the overall picture suggests that militant groups remained largely present despite the regional geopolitical environment.

According to the PICSS monthly security review, 85 militant attacks were recorded in May, a slight increase from 81 in April.

These incidents resulted in 113 deaths, including 52 security forces personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants and four members of peace committees. 182 people were also injured during the month, including 130 civilians, 47 security personnel, four militants and one member of a peace committee.

While the overall number of attacks only saw a slight increase, a closer look at the data reveals some concerning trends.

Security personnel deaths rose by a significant 73 percent, underscoring the continuing threat to Pakistan’s armed forces.

Civilian injuries also saw a dramatic 145 percent increase, from 53 in April to 130 in May, highlighting the growing impact of militant activities on the general population. In contrast, security personnel injuries declined by 20 percent, from 59 to 47.

Balochistan and KP remained the worst-hit provinces, accounting for 82 of the 85 attacks reported across the country.

Balochistan experienced the highest levels of violence, with 51 people killed in 35 militant attacks—including 30 civilians, 18 security personnel, and three militants—and 100 injured (94 civilians, five security personnel, one militant).