Pakistan warns Afghanistan over Bannu attack, says reserves right for ‘decisive action’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday said it reserves the right to take “decisive action” against those responsible for a deadly attack on a police post in Bannu, as it accused militants based in Afghanistan of planning the assault that martyred 15 police personnel.

The Foreign Office said that investigations, evidence and technical intelligence showed the May 9 attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was “masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan”.

The statement came after Pakistan summoned the Afghan chargé d’affaires in Islamabad and handed over a “strong demarche” over the incident, which also left four people injured.

Pakistan expressed “grave concern” over what it described as continued use of Afghan territory for attacks inside the country, and warned that it reserves the right to respond against those involved.

🔊PR No.1️⃣1️⃣5️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Demarche to Afghan Taliban Regime on Terrorist Attack on Police Post in Bannu

🔗⬇️https://t.co/kVCWZE4jTi pic.twitter.com/fDvsw6Ss7U

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 11, 2026

“The Afghan chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to deliver a strong demarche regarding the cowardly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) attack… in Bannu District,” the Foreign Office said.

The ministry said the attack was carried out by militants of “Fitna al Khawarij”, a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Islamabad said that the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan and what it called a “permissive environment” for their operations had been documented in United Nations and other international reports.

“The fight against terrorism is a common cause, and the Afghan Taliban must honour their commitment not to allow their territory to be used for terrorism against other countries,” the Foreign Office said.

It added that Pakistan had repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to take “concrete and verifiable action” against militant groups operating from Afghan soil, including TTP-linked networks.

However, it said the Afghan authorities had “consistently failed” to deliver meaningful action despite multiple rounds of talks facilitated by friendly countries.

“Pakistan will not compromise on its national security or the safety and protection of its citizens,” the statement added.

The attack on Saturday night involved an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the police post, followed by heavy gunfire and a multi-directional assault, officials said. Security forces reported the use of drones during the attack.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant violence in recent years, particularly in border regions, straining already tense relations with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, which Islamabad accuses of harbouring insurgent groups.

The two countries have held several rounds of talks mediated by regional partners, but tensions have persisted over cross-border security concerns.