A suicide bomber backed by gunmen rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a security post in northwestern Pakistan's Bajaur district on Monday night, killing 11 soldiers and a child. The military said troops later pursued and killed 12 militants in the aftermath.

The attack in the former Pakistani Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border marks another deadly escalation in violence that has strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.

The military said attackers sought to breach the checkpoint overnight but were thwarted by security forces. The blast caused part of the compound to collapse and heavily damaged nearby civilian homes, killing a young girl and wounding seven other civilians, including women and children.

Local police official Zafar Khan said shortly after the suicide bombing, militants tried to sneak into the security post, triggering a shootout that killed 12 attackers. A search operation was underway in Bajaur.

In a separate incident in Bannu, a bomb planted in a rickshaw exploded at Miryan police station, killing two civilians and wounding 17 others.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks in separate statements, expressing sorrow over the "martyrdom" of security personnel and offering condolences to families.

Sharif reaffirmed the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism, stating the nation stands with its armed forces.

Tension has persisted in Bajaur since August 2025, when security forces launched a targeted operation displacing tens of thousands of residents.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion falls on the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). The violence surge has strained Islamabad-Kabul relations, with Pakistan accusing TTP of operating freely inside Afghanistan—a charge both TTP and Kabul deny.

Army Chief General Asim Munir recently called on Afghanistan's Taliban to choose between ties with Pakistan or supporting TTP.