In a devastating suicide attack in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, at least 16 soldiers lost their lives, and more than two dozen others, including civilians, were injured. This tragic incident was confirmed by local government officials and police, who provided updates on the attack.
According to an anonymous government official, a suicide bomber targeted a military convoy by ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into it. The death toll was initially reported as 13 but later revised to 16 as further details emerged. The attack’s impact was severe, with the explosion causing two houses in the vicinity to collapse, injuring six children in the process, as reported by a police officer stationed in the area.
The attack has been claimed by the suicide bomber wing of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur armed group, which is a faction of the Pakistani Taliban. This violence follows an alarming trend, as Pakistan has experienced a marked increase in terrorist activity in regions along its border with Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021. The Pakistani government has accused Afghanistan of harboring groups responsible for attacks inside its territory, a claim that the Taliban has categorically denied.
Since the beginning of this year, around 290 people, predominantly security personnel, have reportedly been killed in various assaults orchestrated by armed groups opposing the government, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan regions. This persistent wave of violence raises serious concerns about security and stability in Pakistan, as the nation grapples with the ongoing threat posed by militant factions.
