On February 17, 2026, a coordinated attack involving a suicide bomber and gunmen targeted a military checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan, resulting in the tragic deaths of 11 soldiers and a child. The attack unfolded when troops signaled for an explosive-laden vehicle to stop, leading to the vehicle ramming into the wall of the security post, causing part of the compound to collapse. The military confirmed that the attackers had attempted to breach the checkpoint overnight but were initially thwarted by security forces, who later pursued the assailants. This incident marks a significant escalation in violence in the region, particularly as it follows closely on the heels of a motorcycle bomb explosion near the Miryan Police Station in Bannu, which killed at least two individuals, including a child, and injured 17 others. The blast was attributed to an improvised explosive device (IED) containing seven to eight kilograms of explosive material, according to the bomb disposal squad. Bannu Deputy Inspector General Sajjad Khan noted that police personnel at the site remained unharmed, stating, "The police personnel remained safe in the blast, and the building of the police station did not sustain damage." Both incidents have drawn condemnation from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who reiterated the nation's commitment to combating terrorism.