Militants rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into an army checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan, killing 11 security personnel and a child, the military said on Tuesday, as the South Asian nation battles a surge in violence. The Islamist Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan blames Afghanistan for providing a safe haven to the militants, a charge Kabul's Taliban government has repeatedly denied. A rare bombing at a mosque in the capital Islamabad earlier this month killed over 30 people during Friday prayers. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State militant group, raising fears that Pakistan could be dealing with a resurgence of militancy on multiple fronts.

Source: The Telegraph February 17, 2026 10:07 UTC