By Micah Jonah
February 18, 2026
Two bombings, a gun battle in northwest Pakistan have killed more than a dozen people, highlighting ongoing security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
In Bajaur district, an explosives-laden vehicle targeted a security checkpoint, killing 11 security personnel and one child, injuring seven others, including women and children. Local police said the child died when a nearby building collapsed from the blast. A suicide bomber later drove a vehicle into the wall of a religious college, killing police and Frontier Corps personnel inside. Authorities are still investigating whether the two attacks were linked.
Earlier the same day, in Bannu district near the Afghan border, explosives attached to a parked motorcycle detonated near a police station, killing two people, injuring at least 17.
Separately, a search operation in Shangla district left three police personnel and three rebel fighters dead. Officials said the fighters were involved in attacks targeting Chinese nationals.
Security experts note that attacks on Pakistan’s forces have surged since 2021, coinciding with the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. The Pakistani government has blamed most attacks on the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose leaders are reportedly based in Afghanistan.
More than 2,400 deaths were recorded in attacks across Pakistan in the first three quarters of 2025, showing a steady increase in violence in the region. Authorities continue efforts to secure the border and combat militant groups operating in tribal areas.
