In a devastating suicide car bomb attack targeting a joint checkpoint in Pakistan’s Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, at least 11 security personnel have been killed. The incident, confirmed by the Pakistani military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), unfolded near the Afghanistan border on February 16.
The explosive-laden vehicle rammed into a Frontier Corps security post located in a former religious school building in Bajaur. The blast reduced the structure to rubble, with rescuers later pulling bodies from the debris under flashlight in the dead of night. Videos circulating on social media captured locals desperately aiding in rescue efforts amid the chaos.
Tragically, the explosion’s ferocity claimed the life of a child in a nearby home and left at least three others critically injured. Several surrounding houses suffered extensive damage, and fears mount that the civilian toll could rise as recovery operations continue.
This attack underscores a alarming surge in militant activities across Pakistan. Just days earlier, a deadly mosque bombing in Islamabad killed dozens of worshippers. On Monday, a motorcycle bomb near Miryan police station in Bannu district, also in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed two civilians including a child and wounded 14 others. Police remained unscathed, but bystanders bore the brunt.
Earlier on February 7, two separate assaults targeting police in Bannu injured two officers. The violence shows no signs of abating, with a January report from the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) revealing a sharp decline in security. The ‘Pakistan Security Report 2025’ documented 699 attacks this year—a 34% increase from 2024—resulting in 1,034 deaths and 1,366 injuries.
Overall conflict-related incidents, including counter-terror operations, border clashes, and kidnappings, soared to 1,124, up 43% from last year. This marks the fifth consecutive year of escalating violence, painting a grim picture for Pakistan’s stability as militants exploit border regions and urban vulnerabilities.