Four security personnel killed in militant attack in northwest Pakistan

At least four security personnel were killed and two others injured when a roadside bomb targeted a Frontier Corps (FC) convoy in Khyber district, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

A senior security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Nukta that an improvised explosive device (IED) struck the convoy in the Bar Qambarkhel area of Bara Tehsil. The wounded were evacuated to a nearby hospital, the official added.

Security forces cordoned off the area following the blast and launched search operations to identify and apprehend those responsible.

Militant violence has remained a persistent challenge in northwest Pakistan, with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) claiming responsibility for several recent attacks on security personnel in the region. However, no group has yet claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack.

Khyber district, which borders Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for militancy, particularly in the Bara area and the Tirah Valley. The region has seen large-scale military operations aimed at dismantling insurgent networks, which have significantly reduced the militant footprint. Despite these efforts, sporadic attacks continue, keeping security forces on high alert and raising the possibility of renewed military action.

Authorities recently concluded a jirga - a traditional local council - between the Khyber district administration and representatives from Tirah Valley to coordinate evacuation and rehabilitation plans ahead of potential operations. Under the agreement, evacuation from the Tirah Valley plains is set to begin on January 10 and conclude by January 30, with phased returns of displaced families scheduled after April 5.

Sources said the plan includes compensation of Rs3 million for fully destroyed homes and Rs1 million for partially damaged properties. Each affected family will also receive Rs250,000 in cash assistance and a monthly stipend of Rs50,000. Authorities will provide transport, medical support, and food supplies along evacuation routes, sources said.