Reported by Al Jazeera, AFP, and Reuters journalists.

Northwest Pakistan, particularly the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has long been a hotspot for militant activity, with groups often operating near the Afghan border.

Published On 24 Jul 202624 Jul 2026

The military reported that a suicide attack at a security checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan resulted in 27 fatalities, including soldiers, police officers, and militants.

The overnight attack was near the Afghan border in the restive and remote northwest which has ‌long hosted armed groups that carry out attacks.

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The military reported that 12 soldiers, two police officers and a forestry official were killed, along with 12 attackers.

The attackers attempted to breach the checkpoint in Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, by driving a vehicle packed with explosives into the outer wall.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an insurgent group active since 2007, claimed responsibility and stated that four suicide bombers executed the attack.

A search operation is under way in the surrounding area to track down anyone involved.

The bombing is the latest in an extended series of assaults on security forces and other officials and civilians across northwestern Pakistan.

The violence has accelerated since the Taliban returned to governance of neighbouring Afghanistan, where many armed groups shelter.

Attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have increased sharply, while a surge of attacks and suicide bombings against police in neighbouring Bannu district was reported last week.

The Centre for Research and Security Studies recorded fatalities rising from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 last year, while the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies says attacks nationwide rose 34 percent over the same period.

The Pakistani government has long accused Afghanistan of sheltering armed groups. The Afghan Taliban government denies any involvement and insists the attacks are Pakistan’s internal issue.

The dispute has escalated into military action, with Pakistan carrying out repeated air raids on Afghan soil that it says target armed groups, and Afghanistan firing back.

The United Nations has recorded hundreds of Afghan civilian deaths from those strikes this year, deepening the rift between the two neighbours.

This attack is the latest in a series of assaults targeting security forces in the region. The TTP has intensified operations since the Taliban's return to power in neighboring Afghanistan, where many militants find safe haven. The Pakistani government has urged Afghan authorities to prevent cross-border attacks. Meanwhile, security forces continue search operations to apprehend any remaining suspects. The remote and rugged terrain, along with a porous border, poses ongoing challenges to counterterrorism efforts.