North Waziristan – Investigations into the December 19 assault on the security forces’ headquarters in Boya, North Waziristan, have reached a significant breakthrough.
In the coordinated attack, authorities have identified another suicide bomber as an Afghan citizen.
Qari Abdullah or Azzam, the attacker was a native of the Shamal Do Manda district of the Khost province in Afghanistan.
This identification further underscores the transnational aspect of the Boya Attack Investigation as officers connect the network behind the bloodshed.
The December 19 attack was an elaborate attempt to infiltrate a high-security military base. Four militants tried to break into the headquarters with heavy weaponry and suicide vests during the encounter.
Among the four attackers that were involved in the incident, the identity of two suicide bombers has officially been established as Afghans.
The Boya attack investigation has focused heavily on the origin of these attackers, as their presence points toward the continued use of foreign soil to launch operations against security personnel in the border regions.
Context of the December 19 Assault
The first attack started by an attempt to smash the perimeter of the Boya headquarters, after which the militants and the security forces exchanged fire in an extreme way.
The personnel on duty prevented the attackers from entering the main compound by taking prompt action, but the resultant explosions and gunfire raised a lot of alarms in the adjacent North Waziristan district.
As part of the ongoing Boya attack investigation, security agencies are examining how the group managed to infiltrate the area and the specific logistical support provided to foreign nationals like Qari Abdullah.
Also See: Waziristan Attack: Afghan National Identified in Suicide Strike
Cross-Border Security Concerns
The fact that several of the attackers were of Khost province in Afghanistan further confirms the longstanding fears about militant refuges across the border.
The Boya attack investigation will focus on finding out whether these people belonged to a bigger cell that was under the umbrella of proscribed groups that frequented the Pak-Afghan border.
To the community in the region, the assurance of foreign interest is a darker reminder of the intricate issue of security that is present in the area.
The authorities have once again stated that they will follow any lead that they get in order to have the various perpetrators of the facilitation of the findings of the Boya Attack Investigation brought to justice.
