Feb 17, Kathmandu - North-West Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province witnessed a resurgence of violence on Monday, with multiple attacks leaving at least 14 security personnel and a young girl dead, according to officials. Several others were injured in these incidents, which coincided with intensified insurgent operations along Afghanistan’s border regions.

The attacks occurred amid a crackdown on insurgent activities in the area. Earlier this month, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide blast at a Shia mosque in Islamabad, which resulted in 31 fatalities and 169 injuries.

According to a military statement, an explosion near a security checkpoint in Bannu district killed 11 security personnel and a girl. The blast caused extensive damage to nearby residential buildings, and seven people were injured. The military labeled the attack a “cowardly terrorist act,” blaming it on an Indian-backed group. Security forces also claimed to have killed a dozen terrorists fleeing the scene. An anonymous security official reported that a vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into a wall of a religious college.

In another incident at the Miryan police post in Bannu city, a bomb planted on a rickshaw exploded, killing two civilians and injuring 17 others. Meanwhile, in the Sangla district, security forces engaged in a search operation that resulted in the deaths of three terrorists and three police officers. Authorities identified the terrorists as individuals involved in targeted attacks against Chinese nationals.

In recent years, Chinese investment in Pakistan has surged, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), focusing on infrastructure, energy, and transportation projects. However, these projects have increasingly become targets of militant attacks. Last March, five Chinese workers and their driver were killed when a suicide bomber targeted a construction site, causing their vehicle to fall into a deep gorge along the Karakoram Highway.

China maintains a close partnership with Islamabad, providing economic support and strengthening regional ties. Nevertheless, persistent security threats have heightened concerns over the safety of Chinese personnel and projects. Authorities have indicated that they will intensify operations to curb insurgent activities and restore stability in the border regions.