Pakistan summons Afghan Taliban diplomat over deadly Bajaur attack

Following a deadly attack in Bajaur district on February 16, 2026, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Taliban’s deputy ambassador in Islamabad and issued a formal protest over the alleged use of Afghan territory in the operation.

The ministry stated that it conveyed serious concerns to the Taliban representative and emphasised that Islamabad reserves the right to take action, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The ministry expressed deep concern that, according to Pakistani authorities, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership operates from Afghan territory with impunity. 

Pakistan emphasised that, despite repeated assurances from Afghan authorities to take action, Islamabad has seen no visible or concrete results to date.

The attack involved militants driving an explosives‑laden vehicle into a Pakistani military checkpoint in Bajaur district, killing 11 security personnel and a young girl, injuring several civilians, and triggering a shootout that left 12 attackers dead.

The TTP claimed responsibility amid a broader surge in militant violence in Pakistan’s northwest, and the proximity of the attack to the Afghan border intensified Islamabad’s concerns about militants allegedly using Afghan territory as a haven.

By Jeyhun Aghazada