By Khawaja Hamza

Islamabad, Pakistan has formally lodged a strong demarche with the Afghan Taliban regime following the deadly terrorist attack in Bajaur on February 16, 2026, which claimed the lives of 11 Pakistani soldiers.

According to the Foreign Office, the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Islamabad conveyed its “strongest condemnation” of the attack and expressed deep concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

According to officials, the assault involved a vehicle-borne suicide bombing followed by a coordinated fire raid on a Pakistan Military and Law Enforcement Agencies’ post in Bajaur district. The attack was attributed to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In its demarche, Pakistan maintained that the entire leadership of FAK/TTP is based in Afghanistan and continues to operate with impunity from Afghan territory. The Foreign Office emphasized that Islamabad has repeatedly raised the issue with the Afghan Taliban authorities and has received assurances in the past. However, it noted with regret that those assurances have not translated into visible or concrete action on the ground.

The Afghan Taliban regime was urged to take “immediate, concrete and verifiable measures” against all terrorist groups operating from its territory, including dismantling their leadership structures.
Officials further stated that Pakistan has categorically informed Kabul that it reserves the right to respond and eliminate members of the FAK group and their affiliates wherever they may be located, in order to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians, and territorial integrity.

The latest incident adds to growing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy, with Pakistan repeatedly asserting that militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan pose a serious threat to its national security.