NORTH WAIZIRISTAN: At least 13 people were killed and 24 others injured in a devastating suicide bombing early Saturday morning in the Khaddi area of Mir Ali, North Waziristan, when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a vehicle belonging to a Bomb Disposal Unit.
According to local sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emergency responders rushed to the scene immediately following the explosion. Among the casualties are 14 civilians, including women and children. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. The attack took place around 7:45 AM.
Due to ongoing military activity in the district, a curfew had been imposed earlier in the morning. Security forces swiftly secured the area following the blast. Responsibility for the attack has reportedly been claimed by “Aswad al-Harb,” a faction of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group. In their statement, they referenced “Hudhaifah Istishhadi Kandak,” a sub-unit known for recruiting suicide bombers.
This incident is being described as one of the deadliest attacks in North Waziristan in recent months, raising serious concerns over the resurgence of militant activity in the region. Authorities are continuing search and clearance operations, and investigations are underway to track down the perpetrators and their facilitators.
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of these attacks. Women and children are frequently caught in the crossfire or injured in blasts near military patrols and installations. Today attack, which killed 13 and injured 24, including civilians, marks one of the deadliest incidents in recent months, underscoring the volatility of the region.
Despite military presence and intelligence operations, North Waziristan remains vulnerable, particularly to cross-border infiltration, local militant recruitment, and sectarian or tribal grievances, which militants frequently exploit.
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