The operation ended with the neutralisation of a suicide bomber and four other attackers. No students or staff members were harmed during the assault. The college building is still being cleared as there's a risk of explosive devices left behind.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack on the college began on Monday when terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate. They broke through and entered the facility before being cornered in the administrative block. Security forces continued the clearance operation on Tuesday against the terrorists hiding inside the college.
Pakistan Warns of Cross-Border Action
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday warned that Pakistan could carry out strikes inside Afghanistan following the recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad and South Waziristan. He slammed the Afghan Taliban regime for sheltering militants responsible for the violence.
The defence minister said cross-border action inside Afghanistan could not be "ruled out" after these two attacks.
Asif dismissed the Afghan Taliban regime's condemnation of the attacks, saying such expressions of regret could not "be taken as proof of sincerity." He added, "Those sheltered by the Afghan Taliban are repeatedly attacking us."
The minister warned both India and Afghanistan against any misadventure, saying Pakistan would "pay back in the same coin."
"Pakistan will never initiate any military adventure," he assured. However, he made it clear: "We will not let any act of aggression go unanswered; we will respond forcefully."
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Ministers Point to Afghan-India Nexus
Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar said the Wana attack was part of a conspiracy involving Afghanistan and India, designed to harm Pakistan through a proxy war. He said negotiations could not continue alongside such attacks and promised that evidence would be presented to the international community. Tarar warned that Pakistan would not sit idle until terrorism ended, and that India and Afghanistan would face consequences.
Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi praised the security personnel for their brave actions that foiled the attack. He confirmed that the militants had links to Afghanistan and said he, along with the Defence Minister and other officials, had presented evidence to Afghan authorities. Naqvi urged Afghanistan to stop terrorism originating from its soil and warned that Pakistan would hold responsible parties accountable if attacks continued.
How the Attack Unfolded
The attackers tried to breach the security perimeter and rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of the facility in South Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan.
Pakistani soldiers engaged the attackers immediately and killed two of them. Three others managed to enter the college premises and were cornered in the administrative block.
The military said the attackers were members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who Pakistan says are sheltered by the Afghan Taliban and backed by India. Both Kabul and New Delhi deny these allegations.
"Khwarij (TTP militants) hiding inside college premises are in contact with their masters and handlers in Afghanistan and are getting instructions," ISPR said in a statement.
"This blatant act of barbarism orchestrated by Khwarij from Afghanistan is in contrast to assertions made by Afghan Taliban Regime claiming non-presence of these terrorist groups on their soil. Pakistan reserves the right to respond against terrorists and their leadership present in Afghanistan."
The TTP has distanced itself from the attack. There was no immediate response from Kabul or New Delhi to the Pakistani military's statement.
"Clearance operations are being conducted to eliminate leftover Indian-sponsored kharjis (militants)," ISPR added.
Rising Tensions
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been rising in recent years following an increase in militant attacks, mainly by the TTP, in Pakistan's western regions bordering Afghanistan. The group is separate from but is seen by Pakistani officials as an ally of the Afghan Taliban.
