A deadly militant attack in Pakistan’s northwestern Bajaur district left at least 11 security personnel and a child dead after attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into an army checkpoint, according to the military. The assault took place on Monday near the Afghanistan border, an area that has witnessed rising militant activity in recent months.
Officials said security forces intercepted the militants as they attempted to enter a residential compound used by soldiers. After being blocked, the attackers drove the explosive-filled vehicle into the checkpoint’s wall, triggering a powerful blast. The explosion also injured seven people, including women and children who were nearby at the time of the attack.
The military stated that security personnel responded immediately, and 12 militants were killed while attempting to flee the scene following the bombing. Authorities launched clearance operations in the surrounding area to ensure no additional threats remained.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), commonly referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has been engaged in an insurgency against the Pakistani state since 2007, seeking to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic rule. Violence has intensified since the TTP ended a ceasefire agreement with Islamabad in late 2022.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups of operating from safe havens across the border in Afghanistan, allegations denied by the Taliban-led government in Kabul. The latest assault adds to growing concerns about a broader resurgence of militancy, particularly after a separate mosque bombing in Islamabad earlier this month killed more than 30 worshippers, an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
