A suicide car bombing targeted a Pakistani military convoy in Mir Ali, North Waziristan on Saturday, killing at least 13 soldiers and wounding 10 others near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, according to multiple intelligence sources. The attack marks one of the deadliest assaults on Pakistani security forces in recent months, underscoring persistent militant threats in the volatile region.
The explosion, described by witnesses as a “huge, big bang,” involved an explosive-laden vehicle ramming into the military convoy. Local officials reported thick smoke visible across Mir Ali, with the blast’s impact shattering windows and collapsing roofs in nearby homes.
Casualty figures initially varied, with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government confirming eight security personnel killed, while intelligence sources later revised the death toll to 13 Pakistani soldiers. Several wounded troops were airlifted to military hospitals in critical condition.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, suspicion has fallen on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an Islamist militant umbrella group waging an insurgency to overthrow Pakistan’s government.
North Waziristan, a lawless tribal district bordering Afghanistan, has long been a hotbed for militant activity. Pakistan alleges that TTP and other jihadist groups operate training camps in Afghanistan, a claim Kabul denies, insisting the militancy is Pakistan’s internal issue.
Pakistan’s Ongoing Struggle Against Border Militancy
The Pakistani military has conducted multiple counter-terrorism offensives in North Waziristan, yet attacks persist. Security forces remain a prime target for militants, particularly along the porous Afghan border, where insurgents exploit rugged terrain to launch cross-border strikes.
This latest bombing follows a broader uptick in violence in Pakistan’s northwest, raising concerns about regional stability and the Taliban-led Afghanistan’s role in harboring militants.
