Militants blow up government school in northwest Pakistan

Unidentified militants blew up a government school on Thursday in northwestern Pakistan, in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said.

According to local police, assailants planted an improvised explosive device (IED) at the Government Primary School Noor Jan in the Baka Khel area of Ghora village, completely demolishing the building.

“The explosion razed the structure, though no casualties were reported as the school was empty at the time,” police said.

“An investigation is underway to determine who carried out the attack and the quantity of explosives used,” police added.

Militant activity in the region

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and no militant group has claimed responsibility.

However, militant organizations, including Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, remain active in the region amid a resurgence of militancy.

Bannu, located near Pakistan’s former tribal areas along the Afghanistan border, has seen a renewed wave of violence in recent years, with security forces and government officials frequently targeted.

Despite ongoing counterterrorism operations, armed groups continue to exploit the region’s rugged terrain and persistent security challenges.

In response to the ongoing instability, the Qaumi Jirga, a council of tribal elders, has announced plans for a peace march on March 27, followed by a sit-in on March 30 in Bannu, aiming to draw attention to the deteriorating law and order situation, including terrorism and targeted killings.