RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday that security forces successfully repelled an attack on Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan District, killing two attackers and cornering three others inside the college premises.

According to an ISPR statement, militants identified as members of the group Fitna al Khwarij — described by the military as an Indian-backed proxy organisation — launched the assault and attempted to breach the college perimeter. The attackers reportedly used an explosive-laden vehicle to ram the main gate, causing the gate to collapse and damaging nearby infrastructure.

Security forces responded quickly and engaged the assailants, eliminating two militants at the outer perimeter. ISPR said three other attackers gained entry and were subsequently cornered in the administrative block of cadet college clearance operations are under way to neutralise any remaining threats.

The military statement condemned the attack as a “heinous and cowardly” attempt to intimidate the local youth, noting parallels with the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar. ISPR alleged the militants were receiving guidance from handlers in Afghanistan and said this contradicted assertions by the Afghan authorities that such groups were not operating from their soil.

The statement added that Pakistan “reserves the right to respond” to terrorists and their leadership based in Afghanistan. ISPR said security and law enforcement agencies will continue counter-terrorism operations under the national campaign “Azm-e-Istehkam.”

Local authorities and rescue teams are at the scene. No independent confirmation of civilian casualties or injuries was provided in the ISPR release; details on any casualties among students or staff have not yet been released. Investigations and clearance operations remain ongoing.