Tazeen Akhtar | Islamabad
Our religion teaches us , and speaking without religion even if you are defeated, don’t lose heart and try try again, if you win, remain humble and do not jump with joy and remain calculated and composed for the revengeful comeback of the enemy. But unfortunately , we did not learn and we are attacked and damaged again and again.
Terrorist attacks in Pakistan escalated significantly after May 2025, with a 34% increase in incidents in 2025 overall, primarily driven by volatility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. Key incidents in late May 2025 included a deadly school bus bombing in Khuzdar (8 killed) and a drone strike in Waziristan, with 2025 recording over 1,000 fatalities.
We pointed out that there was 1971 after 1965. Even a naive person know that never under estimate your enemy.
The latest is in Bannu of KP where everyone knows that people do not come out of homes after evening. Police stations even are closed as soon as the sun sets because the time of terrorists starts from sunset to sunrise, they do not avoid an opportunity of striking their target in the day light though.
At least 15 and according to local people 21 police personnel were martyred on Saturday night after attack on the Most targeted Fateh Khel police post of Mandan PS in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district that has been attacked many times in the past.
The number of the personnel on duty at this Post is 42 but all were not there at that time. Officials shared that 02 constables have been saved alive.
Ettihad ul Mujahideen, a group not known , has accepted the responsibility that is believed to be the ally of Hafiz Gull Bahadur.
The Post is only 5 KM away from the city and there are 03 other Police Stations and posts around, that are Bukka Khel, Meriyan and Mandan.
After 8-30 PM on night of 09 May , a big explosion were heard followed by 03 more. The terrorists launched their attack on the post by ramming a vehicle laden with explosives.
Locals share that the number of terrorists were 50 to 100 who were holding control of the roads.
As reported in media not only this post and adjoining houses were destroyed but terrorists blocked the rescue troops at various points for almost 3 hours to cover a 5 km distance.
Police personnel rushed from other stations but could not reach the site due to blockades at the roads by the terrorists. Local people tell that there were gun fire exchange between the two sides. The response of Bannu Cant is not known in the preliminary reports from the site.
The Fateh Khel police check post in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has been a frequent target of militant violence, experiencing several high-profile attacks, particularly in 2025 and 2026. The attacks are characterized by the use of suicide bombers, heavy weaponry, and coordinated assaults aimed at seizing control of the post.
Major Attacks History
May 10, 2026 – Suicide Bombing: A significant suicide attack occurred on Saturday night, involving an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into the Fateh Khel police check post. The explosion was followed by intense gunfire, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 7 to 15 police personnel, according to differing early reports, with several others injured.
March 16, 2026 – Repelled Attack: Police successfully repelled a, 2:00 am attack on the check post. Thermal cameras detected around 15 terrorists, but law enforcement managed to force them to retreat without any police casualties.
February 11, 2026 – Foiled Assault: A coordinated attack by suspected militants using heavy weapons was thwarted. While the attack was unsuccessful, it was identified as a retaliatory strike following an IBO (Intelligence Based Operation) earlier that month.
August 3, 2025 – Attack & Officer Martyrdom: Dressed in heavy arms, 40 to 50 militants attacked the checkpost, leading to a fierce hour-long gunfight. One policeman, Constable Rooh Niaz Khan, was martyred, while security forces claimed to have killed three militants.
Early 2025 – Multiple Attacks:
The check post was targeted multiple times early in the year, with a notable attack in February 2025 that left two policemen martyred after a midnight assault involving light and heavy weapons.
Key Observations Methodology:
Militants frequently use a combination of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) to breach the perimeter, followed by armed fighters.
A Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) refers to an explosive system that is concealed within a vehicle such as a car, truck, or motorcycle. These devices are typically used in contexts of conflict or terrorism to target infrastructure or personnel.
Regional Instability: These attacks are part of a broader surge in militancy targeting security forces in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.The area has witnessed intensified security operations following these events, with authorities utilizing thermal surveillance to counter nighttime, “ambush-style” attacks.
Key Attacks After May 2025
May 21, 2025 (Khuzdar School Bus Bombing): A suicide bomber targeted a school bus in Balochistan, killing 8 people, including 4 children, and injuring 53.
May 18, 2025 (Killa Abdullah): A car bombing near a market in Balochistan killed 4 people.
May 11, 2025 (Peshawar): A bomb attack on a vehicle killed 2 police officers.
May 6, 2025 (Machh): 7 soldiers were killed in a bomb attack on a military vehicle in Balochistan, claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
19 May 2025 (Waziristan): A suspected drone strike in Mir Ali killed 4 children.
Most Affected Regions:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) suffered nearly 71% of all violence-linked fatalities in the third quarter of 2025, followed by Balochistan.
Increased Militant Activity: 2025 saw 699 terrorist attacks across the country, which left 1,034 people dead and 1,366 injured.
Shift in Tactics: Militant groups, particularly in Balochistan, moved toward complex, coordinated attacks, including highway blockades and targeting economic infrastructure.
State Response: The state intensified its response, with security operations accounting for over half of the total violence-related fatalities in 2025.
Operation Sindoor (May 7-10, 2025): India conducted airstrikes and missile strikes inside Pakistan, particularly targeting civilian population as well as airbases including Nur Khan, Murid, and Rafiqi causing a brief period of intense border tension.
Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos (“A Structure Made of Lead”) was a major military operation launched by Pakistan on May 10, 2025, in response to Indian air strikes on Pakistani territory. Pakistan Air Force shot down 08 fighter aircrafts of India including 04 Rafale of France.
