Rawalpindi, February 17, 2026: At least 11 security personnel were martyred after terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a joint security forces and law enforcement agencies checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the attack took place on February 16 when militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij — a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — attempted to assault the joint checkpost.
The ISPR said security forces responded swiftly and “engaged the fleeing khwarij with precision,” resulting in the elimination of 12 terrorists. However, in a final act of desperation, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the checkpost.
“Due to the blast impact, the infrastructure at the checkpost collapsed, as a result of which eleven brave sons of the soil rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom,” the statement said.
The powerful explosion also damaged nearby residential buildings, leading to the martyrdom of an innocent young girl. Seven other civilians, including women and children, were injured in the blast.
The ISPR said sanitisation operations were underway in the area to eliminate any remaining militants. It reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue their relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
“The sacrifices of our brave soldiers and innocent civilians further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs,” the statement concluded.
More attacks in Shangla and Bannu
In a separate incident, three policemen were martyred and two terrorists were killed during a search-and-strike operation in the Kabalgram area of Martung tehsil in Shangla district. A police official said militants attacked a police party during the operation, prompting a swift response that led to the elimination of two attackers. The operation remains ongoing, with additional police contingents deployed to the area.
The martyred policemen were identified as Head Constable Maqbool Ahmad and Elite Force constables Saeed-ur-Rehman and Fida Hussain.
Meanwhile, in Bannu, two people — including a Hafiz-e-Quran boy — were killed and at least 17 others injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on a motorcycle exploded near the Miryan police station. According to police, the explosion occurred outside a row of shops and caused widespread panic in the area.
Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) spokesperson Muhammad Noman said the bodies of the deceased and the injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital and Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital. Police and security forces cordoned off the area, collected forensic evidence, and launched a search operation. The bomb disposal squad said seven to eight kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast.
Leadership condemns attacks
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist attacks and expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs. “The sacrifices made by the martyrs for the country’s defence further strengthen our resolve,” he said, vowing that the complete elimination of externally supported terrorism remains the state’s top priority.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, extended condolences to the bereaved families, and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. He praised the security forces for their timely action and said that under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, Pakistan was achieving major successes in the fight against terrorism.
“The entire nation stands with Pakistan’s armed forces in this war against terrorism,” the prime minister said, reiterating the government’s resolve to root out terrorism from the country.
The latest incidents come amid a surge in terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Annual Security Report 2025 by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, fatalities in the province rose sharply from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025 — an increase of 711 deaths, accounting for more than 82 per cent of the national rise in terrorism-related fatalities and marking an almost 44 per cent year-on-year increase in violence.
