Pakistan Summons Afghan Diplomat After Suicide Attack Killed 12

Last Updated:February 19, 2026, 20:31 IST

Pakistan summoned an Afghan diplomat after a Bajaur bombing killed 12, blaming militants from Afghanistan, raising tensions amid fragile ties.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned a senior Afghan diplomat and lodged a strong protest over a suicide bombing near the Afghan border that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers and a young girl earlier this week.

In a statement, the ministry said the Afghan deputy head of mission in Islamabad was called in and handed a formal diplomatic démarche following Monday’s attack in the northwestern Bajaur district. Islamabad alleged that the assault was carried out by militants operating from Afghan territory.

“Pakistan reserves the right to respond and eliminate those who were behind the attack wherever they may be located, to protect its soldiers, civilians and borders," the statement said. There was no immediate response from Kabul.

Strained Ties Since Border Clashes

Relations between the two neighbours have remained tense since deadly border clashes in October 2025 that left dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants dead. The violence erupted after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which Afghanistan blamed on Pakistan.

Although a ceasefire brokered by Qatar has largely held, follow-up talks in Istanbul failed to produce a lasting political agreement, leaving diplomatic ties fragile.

Rise in Militant Attacks

Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant violence in recent years, much of it attributed to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. The group is separate from, but closely aligned with, Afghanistan’s Taliban, who returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the TTP of operating from safe havens inside Afghanistan, an allegation denied by both the TTP and Afghan authorities.

The latest attack is expected to further strain already uneasy ties between the two countries.

News world Pakistan Summons Afghan Diplomat After Suicide Attack Killed 12

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