A terrorist attack on a checkpost in district Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), killed 11 security personnel, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that on February 16, a vehicle-borne attack was carried out on a joint checkpost of security forces and law enforcement agencies by Khwarij, described as belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij. Fitna al Khwarij is a term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan.

The statement added that 12 terrorists were eliminated after security forces retaliated and “engaged the fleeing khwarij with precision”. “In their desperation, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall. Due to the blast impact infrastructure at check post collapsed, eleven brave sons of the soil, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and [embracing] martyrdom.”

 

The blast also affected nearby residential buildings, killing one young girl. Seven others, including women and children, were injured.

The ISPR said sanitisation operations are under way to eliminate any remaining threats in the area as part of a counter-terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm e Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and extended condolences to the families of the martyrs. He said the elimination of terrorists operating with external support remained the state’s “topmost priority.”

 

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack in the “strongest terms,” extended condolences to families of the martyrs, and prayed for the recovery of the injured. He noted the elimination of 12 terrorists and lauded the security forces for their timely action, saying that under the vision of Azm e Istehkam, security forces are gaining success in the fight against terrorism.

The attack comes days after a station house officer (SHO) was killed in an attack on a police station in War Mamund tehsil of Bajaur district. In December 2025, a major-ranked officer was martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the district.