Eight Pakistan troops killed in suicide attack

AFP :
Eight Pakistani troops were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-packed vehicle into an army enclave, the military said Tuesday, with one local official saying scores of people had been wounded.
The attack in the western city of Bannu comes weeks after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a sweeping new campaign to root out militant groups, following a surge in attacks.
The army said early Monday that 10 militants had tried to breach an area housing military facilities, armed forces staff and their families but were thwarted.
They then rammed an “explosive laden vehicle into perimeter wall,” blasting through it and damaging an adjoining building — killing eight soldiers and paramilitary troops.
All 10 militants were killed in the ensuing battle, the military said, giving no indication of the number of wounded.
However, a senior local government official told AFP that 141 people had been injured after five fighters wearing suicide vests “infiltrated the residential area.”
They fought running battles with guns and rocket-propelled grenades for 26 hours, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The area was cordoned off on Monday and the attack was claimed by militant group Jaish-e-Furasan Muhammad, who said in a statement “significant damage was inflicted.”