At least 11 security personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack on a joint security checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that on February 16, militants belonging to what it described as the Indian proxy “Fitna al Khwarij” attempted to target a joint checkpost of security forces and law enforcement agencies. The term “Fitna al Khwarij” is used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the ISPR, security forces responded swiftly, killing 12 militants during the exchange of fire and while pursuing fleeing attackers.
The statement said the assailants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the checkpost. The powerful blast caused the structure to collapse, resulting in the martyrdom of 11 security personnel.
The explosion also damaged nearby residential buildings, leading to the death of a young girl and injuring seven others, including women and children.
The ISPR added that sanitisation operations were underway in the area to eliminate any remaining militants. It reiterated that counterterrorism efforts under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision, approved by the federal apex committee on the National Action Plan, would continue 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 said.
President, PM condemn attack
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs, according to a statement issued by the PPP’s media cell. He said the sacrifices made in defence of the country strengthened national resolve and reaffirmed that eliminating externally supported terrorist elements remained a top priority.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the attack and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, state broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) reported. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the recovery of the injured.
“The entire nation stands with Pakistan’s armed forces in this war against terrorism,” the prime minister was quoted as saying, adding that the government remained determined to root out terrorism from the country. He also praised security forces for their timely action in eliminating 12 militants and noted that significant progress was being made under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework.
The attack follows recent incidents in Bajaur, including the martyrdom of an additional station house officer during an assault on a police station in War Mamund tehsil. In December 2025, a major was also martyred in an intelligence-based operation in the district.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a sharp rise in militant violence over the past year. According to the Annual Security Report 2025 by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), fatalities in the province increased from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025 — an absolute rise of 711 deaths, accounting for over 82 per cent of the net national increase and marking nearly a 44 per cent year-on-year surge in violence.