A devastating North Waziristan attack claimed the lives of at least 13 soldiers and injured 24 others, including civilians, after a suicide bomber targeted a military convoy on Saturday. The explosion occurred in Khadi Market, Mir Ali, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, highlighting the escalating security threat in the region.
Convoy Targeted in Coordinated Blast
According to security sources, a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle directly into an army convoy. The powerful blast killed 13 personnel on the spot and wounded at least 24, including 14 civilians. The explosion also caused structural damage, collapsing nearby homes and injuring six children.
“This was a deliberate attack on the armed forces,” a local official confirmed, adding that the bomb disposal unit’s vehicle appeared to be the primary target.
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Group Claims Responsibility
The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a faction affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for the attack. This faction has a known presence in North Waziristan and has previously carried out similar operations against security forces.
There has been no immediate comment from the Pakistani military regarding the incident.
Sharp Rise in Border Violence
The deadly assault marks one of the most serious single-day attacks on Pakistan’s security forces in recent months. Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has reported a surge in cross-border militancy, especially in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of harboring TTP fighters and allowing its soil to be used for launching attacks into Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban, however, continues to deny these claims.
Civilian Toll Deepens Tragedy
In addition to military losses, the civilian toll has deepened public shock. The presence of children among the injured has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed calls for tighter border security and counterterrorism operations in restive areas like North Waziristan.
Authorities have launched a search operation in the area and heightened security alerts in surrounding districts.
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