• Minor girl slain, seven injured after explosion damages nearby houses
• ISPR says 12 ‘fleeing’ terrorists killed
• President, PM reiterate resolve to eradicate terrorism; interior minister, KP CM condemn attack

BAJAUR: At least 11 security personnel and a minor girl embraced martyrdom in a terrorist attack, which targeted a check-post manned by the security forces and the law enforcement agencies in Bajaur tribal district, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued on Tuesday.

The military’s media wing said that the TTP terrorists carried out an attack on security forces and law enforcement agencies’ joint checkpost in Bajaur district on Feb 16, but their attempt to breach the checkpost was foiled by troops.

According to the statement, 12 terrorists were killed after the security forces retaliated and “engaged the fleeing Khwarij with precision”. Fitna al Khwarij is the term used by the state to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

“In their desperation, the attackers rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall. Due to the blast impact, infrastructure at the checkpost collapsed resultantly eleven brave sons of soil, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and [embracing] martyrdom,” as per the statement.

The ISPR elaborated that the explosion affected residential buildings in the area as well, leading to the martyrdom of a young girl. Seven people were also injured in the blast, it added.

Locals and official sources said the checkpost was established in a seminary in the Malangi area of Mamund, located about 25km from Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur district. After the explosion, scores of residents from the area and adjacent localities rushed to the site, which also damaged nearby houses.

The rescuers, aided by locals, began efforts to recover the bodies of the martyred and the injured, which went on till Tuesday morning. The bodies of the martyred personnel, most of whom belonged to areas outside Bajaur, and a local policeman were dispatched to their homes in several ambulances.

Monday’s attack was described as one of the deadliest incidents in the district since the 2023 bombing at a JUI-F gathering that claimed 63 lives and left 123 injured.

In separate statements, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the terrorist attack and extended condolences to the families of the martyrs. “The sacrifice made by the martyrs for the country’s defence further strengthens our resolve,” the president said in his statement. He vowed that the complete elimination of terrorists operating in the country rem­ained the state’s “topmost priority”.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the entire nation stands with Pakistan’s armed forces in this war against terrorism. He said the country remained determined to “root out terrorism from the country”.

“Under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam, security forces are gaining major success in the fight against terrorism,” the premier claimed, while lauding the security forces for “timely action”.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack.

In a statement, Khyber Pakh-tunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that such cowardly acts of terrorism would not weaken the nation’s resolve.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026