February 27, 2026
By Muhammad Junaid & Kaleem Ullah
Over the past six months, the sound of gunfire and explosions has shattered the silence of classrooms across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in seven different incidents. Schools that were once reclaimed from the shadow of militancy, are now again in the crosshairs, as a chilling wave of attacks signals the return of a nightmare the province knows too well. For students and teachers, the promise of education has been overshadowed by fear, and for parents, every school day now carries an unspoken dread.
There have been seven militant attacks on schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past six months, marking a disturbing resurgence of violence targeting educational institutions in the region.
The latest attack occurred at a government high school in the remote Shamozan Kot area of Kabul Khel, Shewa Tehsil, North Waziristan. Local residents said the school was struck by a drone on February 26, destroying around 80 per cent of the building. No casualties were reported. The area recently came into the spotlight after videos of eight-year-old Aina Wazir playing cricket there went viral.
These attacks were recorded between August 2025 and February 2026, with girls’ schools being targeted twice in Mir Ali. The incidents are geographically centered in the former tribal districts, particularly North Waziristan and South Waziristan, indicating that educational infrastructure in these areas remains a soft target.
Feb 24: Govt Middle School (Boys) attacked in Sharif Khan Kot
According to police, unidentified militants blew up the Government Middle School (GMS) Boys Sharif Khan Kot, destroying parts of the building, including two classrooms, washrooms, the main gate, and one section of the boundary wall.
Though no casualties were reported, the attack was so powerful that nearby houses were also affected.
Jan 4: Private school targeted in Khasokhel Village, three injured
In North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area, unidentified assailants targeted a private school using back-to-back quadcopter attacks, injuring three people including the school principal and a Rescue 1122 official.
Local sources said explosives were dropped from a drone onto the premises of Al-Fatah Public School in Khasokhel village. The attack damaged the school compound.
Reports also indicate that banned militant groups operating in the area have increasingly relied on quadcopters to deliver explosives targeting both security personnel and civilian infrastructure.
December 2025: Two girls’ schools attacked in Mir Ali
In the first two weeks of December, two girls’ schools were targeted in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, underscoring the continued vulnerability of educational institutions, particularly those serving girls, in the region.
In the first attack, unidentified militants blew up a government primary school in the Khushali area of Ayaz Kot. Officials said explosives had been planted inside the building and detonated around midnight, resulting in severe damage. The blast was reportedly heard several miles away.
The second attack occurred on December 16, when unidentified militants blew up a government girls’ primary school in Epi village in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan. According to government officials, around 250 girls were enrolled at the school, which was the only government-run educational facility for girls in the surrounding locality. Authorities said the school was closed at the time of the explosion and no casualties were reported.
Aug-Oct 2025: Same Govt High School in Azam Warsk Attacked Twice
In late October, unidentified armed men entered a government high school in Azam Warsak area of Lower South Waziristan’s Birmal tehsil early in the moning and looted valuable educational equipment, including furniture, electrical items and other learning materials. The attackers also vandalised classrooms, damaging doors, windows and the boundary wall of the building.
It is worth mentioning that the school had earlier been blown up with explosives on August 10 by unknown persons, rendering several classrooms unusable. Local sources said repair and restoration work had not been completed when the second attack occurred.
Why are militants targeting schools?
Former district education officer of North Waziristan, Mohib Wazir, told Voicepk.net that it was deeply concerning that militants were now targeting educational institutions, something that was not common a few years ago. Explaining the possible reasons behind the attacks, he said that while schools were previously spared, the situation changed after security forces began demolishing the homes of militants where their families were living. “In response, they have started taking revenge by attacking schools, which are both soft targets and symbols of the state,” he said.
‘Extremist Ideologies Oppose Girls’ Education’
Observers note that many militant groups, particularly the Taliban, view modern, especially state-run and girls, education as “un-Islamic” or Western-influenced, as it symbolizes social change, women’s empowerment, and critical thinking, all of which challenge extremist narratives and rigid control structures. This mindset is also reflected in Afghanistan, where girls’ education has been banned, a policy that continues to influence bordering regions.
Hayat Roghani, a founding member of Mafkoora and a sociopolitical analyst and activist from Charsadda, said attacks on schools , particularly girls’ schools, serve multiple strategic purposes.
“Extremist ideologies oppose girls’ education because it represents social change and women’s empowerment. These attacks are not random acts of violence but calculated efforts to spread fear, prevent girls from attending school, maintain media visibility, and enforce rigid gender roles through psychological control.”
Attacks have no justification in Islam: Chief Khatib of KP
Condemning the incident, Maulana Tayyab Qureshi, Chief Khatib of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said targeting educational institutions was an act of cruelty with no justification in Islam, a religion that forbids even the killing of a cat, let alone the destruction of schools or harm to human life. He said the attacks were political rather than religious in nature, arguing that militants, weakened both ideologically and militarily, resort to targeting soft targets to pressure the state.
He added that the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has had spillover effects in the region. “Although they claim to have changed in many ways, they still do not allow women to attend school, if not demolishing schools outright,” he said.
Addressing the perception that tribal society opposes education, particularly for girls, Maulana Qureshi said this was a misconception. “These are progressive communities,” he said.
Government’s response
Provincial Minister for Education Arshad Ayub Khan said the report on the recent Azam Warsak incident would be released soon. He added that the overall security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was under discussion between civil and military leadership at the apex committee level, so that solutions can be explored.
Meanwhile, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi took to Facebook to say such attacks would not weaken national resolve but would instead strengthen unity against what he described as Fitna al-Khawarij.
‘I want to study in a good school’: Aina Wazir
For Aina Wazir, education remains a priority despite the violence surrounding her community. In one of the videos that later gained widespread attention, she said, “There are no good schools for girls in Waziristan. I want to study in a good school. Along with cricket, my first priority is my education so that I can support my family.”
The citizen journalist who recorded the videos was later abducted by militants and reportedly forced to record apology videos after facing torture. In one such video, he said he regretted making the recording, adding that the purpose was only to highlight Aina’s cricketing talent.
Seven year old #AinaWazir from North Waziristan, and her fierce bowling skills have stunned the internet. The girl with the hidden cricketing talent was filmed recently playing with other children from her neighborhood, but a blacklash by hardline elements in the conflict… pic.twitter.com/eAWVHm1LuO
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) February 21, 2026
For children like Aina Wazir, the hope of studying in a safe classroom remains fragile amid the persistent threat of attacks in Waziristan. Whether the situation in Waziristan will improve enough to allow children to learn without fear remains an open question.