Attack on Malangi check post: Suicide bomber identified as Afghan national

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have identified the suicide bomber involved in the February 16 attack on the Malangi check post in Bajaur district as an Afghan national, providing what officials describe as fresh evidence of militant sanctuaries operating across the border.

According to security sources, the attacker was Syed Ahmad alias Qari Abdullah Abu Zar, son of Syed Abdul Quddus, a resident of Balkh province, Afghanistan. The suicide bombing targeted the Malangi check post, resulting in the martyrdom of 11 security personnel and two civilians.

Sources said the attacker had previously been part of the Afghan Taliban’s special forces and had performed official duties in Afghanistan, raising serious questions about the continued presence and mobility of militant elements with operational experience inside Afghan territory.

Officials say the incident reinforces Pakistan’s long-standing position that, despite sustained and serious counterterrorism efforts at home, cross-border elements continue to undermine these measures. Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghan authorities to ensure that their soil is not used for attacks against Pakistan, but ground realities, officials argue, tell a different story.

Further intelligence indicates that the bomber’s family links and activities in Afghanistan point to the existence of secure hideouts for terrorist networks. These sanctuaries, Pakistani officials say, enable planning, facilitation, and execution of cross-border attacks—at a heavy cost to Pakistan in civilian and security force casualties.

Pakistan has consistently emphasized the need for brotherly relations, border cooperation, and a joint counterterrorism framework.

However, officials warn that as long as Afghan territory continues to be used for militant activities against Pakistan, the prospect of durable peace and stability in the region will remain elusive.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026