North Waziristan: At least 13 Pakistani soldiers were martyred and dozens of others, including civilians, were wounded in a devastating suicide bombing targeting a military convoy in Khadi Market, Mir Ali, North Waziristan, on Saturday. Security officials said the attacker rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the convoy’s lead vehicle, causing a massive explosion.
Deadliest Attack in Months:
The attack, one of the deadliest single-day assaults on Pakistani security forces in recent months, was claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s group, a faction of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the attack was “planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India” and executed through its proxy, TTP. In a strongly worded statement, the ISPR declared: “Thirteen brave sons of the soil embraced shahadat in this tragic and barbaric incident.”
The ISPR identified the martyred personnel as follows:
- Sepoy Manzar Ali, 23, from Mardan
- Subedar Zahid Iqbal, 45, from Karak
- Havildar Sohrab Khan, 39, from Naseerabad
- Havildar Mian Yousaf, 41, from Buner
- Naik Khitab Shah, 34, from Lower Dir
- Lance Naik Ismail, 32, from Naseerabad
- Sepoy Rohail, 30, from Mirpurkhas
- Sepoy Muhammad Ramzan, 33, from Dera Ghazi Khan
- Sepoy Nawab, 30, from Quetta
- Sepoy Zubair Ahmed, 24, from Naseerabad
- Sepoy Muhammad Sahki, 31, from Dera Ghazi Khan
- Sepoy Hashim Abbasi, 20, from Abbotabad
- Sepoy Muddasir Ejaz, 25, from Layyah
ISPR also confirmed that two children and a woman were also severely injured. The explosion damaged nearby houses, causing roofs to collapse and injuring at least six children.
District Police Officer Waqar Ahmed said that a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device was used in the attack. Local media reported that 24 people, including 14 civilians were wounded.
Nation Mourns the Martyrs:
In response, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “strongly condemned” the attack, praising the armed forces for their swift retaliation. “Indian-backed terrorists committed a cowardly act. The entire nation salutes the martyrs,” he stated. President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute, saying: “Those who give their lives to defend the homeland are our real heroes.”
Pakistan Army launched immediate sanitisation operations, killing 14 terrorists. The ISPR vowed to “bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice” and reaffirmed the military’s resolve to eradicate terrorism.
India Rejects Allegations:
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected Pakistan’s accusations outright, saying in a statement: “We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves.”
The attack comes after a tense period between India and Pakistan. In May, both countries exchanged tit-for-tat strikes following an attack in India-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. Over four days, approximately 60 people died in cross-border attacks before the U.S. intervened to de-escalate the crisis. Islamabad claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, while India alleged Pakistani missiles targeted civilian sites.
TTP Resurgence Behind Increased Attacks:
Security officials have linked the latest surge in attacks to the TTP’s decision to end its ceasefire in November 2022. Since then, Pakistan has experienced a significant rise in terror incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. In May alone, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies recorded 85 attacks, compared to 81 in April.
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, ISPR Director General, recently detailed what he described as “irrefutable evidence” of Indian military personnel supporting terrorist activities in Pakistan. “Indian assets are being used to intensify attacks on our soil,” he said.
Border Temporarily Shut Amid Security Concerns
In light of Saturday’s attack, authorities ordered the temporary closure of the Ghulam Khan border crossing with Afghanistan, citing security concerns.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur expressed deep sorrow over the attack. “Security forces have made unprecedented sacrifices to establish peace. These sacrifices only strengthen our national resolve,” he said.
One local resident, Hameedullah Khan, told AFP: “The blast was so powerful it shook our entire neighborhood. We heard screams before ambulances rushed in.”
Operations in the North Waziristan area are ongoing as security forces search for remaining militants. Authorities pledged that the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers would not go in vain.
