A suicide bomber backed by armed militants attacked a security checkpoint in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least 11 soldiers and a young child in one of the deadliest recent assaults in the region. The overnight attack took place in Bajaur district near the Afghan border, an area long affected by militant activity.

According to the military, the attackers attempted to storm the checkpoint but were resisted by security personnel. An explosives laden vehicle detonated at the site, causing part of the compound to collapse and triggering widespread destruction in the surrounding area.

Civilians Among Victims As Homes Damaged

The blast also devastated nearby residential structures, leading to civilian casualties. A child was killed and at least seven other civilians, including women and children, were injured when the explosion damaged homes close to the security post.

Emergency teams rushed the wounded to hospitals while authorities assessed the damage. Images from the scene showed rubble strewn across the compound and adjoining neighbourhoods, underscoring the scale of the explosion.

Militants Killed As Security Forces Launch Pursuit

The military said troops launched follow up operations after the attack and killed 12 militants described as “khwarij,” a term Pakistani authorities use for members of the Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Officials said the attackers had tried to breach the installation but were ultimately repelled.

Pakistan has experienced a sharp rise in militant violence in recent years, with many attacks attributed to the TTP. Although separate from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, the group is considered closely aligned with it. Islamabad has repeatedly accused militants of operating from Afghan territory, a claim denied by both the TTP and Kabul.

The latest attack highlights ongoing security challenges along Pakistan’s western frontier and the continuing threat posed by insurgent groups in border districts such as Bajaur.

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