A suicide vehicle bombing and follow-on militant assault in Bajaur District of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province left 11 security personnel and one young girl dead on 16 February 2026, officials said.
Militants drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a joint security forces and law enforcement check post near the Afghan border, causing part of the perimeter to collapse and triggering a powerful blast. Nearby civilian homes were also damaged, resulting in additional casualties and injuries to seven others, including women and children.
Following the explosion, troops engaged the assailants in a firefight, and Pakistan’s military reported that 12 militants were killed during the response. Authorities described the attackers using the term khawarij, which is often applied to fighters linked to the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and similar groups operating in the region.
The attack highlights the continuing security challenges Pakistan faces along its volatile border areas, where militant activity has surged in recent years. Officials condemned the assault and reiterated efforts to enhance counterterrorism operations in the affected districts.
