Pakistan: 13 Soldiers Killed, Over 20 Injured in Suicide Bombing

A devastating suicide bombing rocked Pakistan’s restive North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, killing 13 soldiers and injuring at least 29 others, including civilians. The attack, targeting a military convoy, marks one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent months.

According to a senior local government official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, “A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy. The blast killed 13 soldiers, injured 10 army personnel and 19 civilians.”

The powerful explosion also caused significant damage to nearby residential structures. “The explosion also caused the roofs of two houses to collapse, injuring six children,” a police officer posted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa told AFP.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, North Waziristan has long been a hotspot for militant activities, and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — a banned extremist outfit — has been frequently linked to previous assaults on security forces in the region.

Friday’s attack comes amid a noticeable uptick in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. Security personnel, police outposts, and convoys have increasingly become targets in this resurgence of militancy.

Earlier this year in March, a suicide bombing near the Jandola checkpost in South Waziristan targeted the Frontier Corps camp. 

ALSO READ: Pakistan PM Bats for 'Meaningful Dialogue' with India on All Key Issues