In a tragic incident in northwest Pakistan, a suicide car bomb claimed the lives of at least 14 soldiers and injured 25 others, including several civilians. The attack occurred in North Waziristan on a Saturday around lunchtime, despite a curfew imposed in the tribal district to aid the movement of security personnel. The intelligence officials, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the incident, reported the details.
An initial investigation revealed that a massive quantity of explosives, approximately 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds), was used in the bombing. This explosion inflicted significant damage to surrounding houses in the vicinity. Among the injured, the officials reported that there were 15 soldiers and 10 civilians, with children included in the numbers. However, the military provided slightly different figures, reporting 13 soldiers dead and three civilians wounded. Without supplying evidence, the military accused neighboring India of orchestrating the attack.
Scenes from the blast location in Khadi village were distressing, showing children wrapped in bandages lying on the ground amidst shards of glass and debris. A Pakistani Taliban faction led by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group took responsibility for this heinous act. The region, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is known as a hotspot for various banned militant groups that often launch attacks on security forces. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring these groups, though Kabul has consistently denied these allegations.
Earlier this year, in March, Pakistani analyst Abdullah Khan shared insights with the media, highlighting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group as more dangerous compared to the Pakistani Taliban, noting their rivalry. Khan, who serves as the managing director at the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, pointed out the resurgence of outlawed organizations such as Lashkar-e-Islam, which operates from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area, as a factor intensifying militant actions within the country.