A soldier of Pakistan Army’s elite Special Services Group (SSG) was martyred, and five others, including a civilian, sustained injuries in a suicide bombing in Bajaur district on Wednesday. The blast occurred as a military vehicle was passing through the bypass road near Inayat Kalay bazaar, a densely populated area of the volatile tribal district bordering Afghanistan.
According to sources, the suicide attacker targeted the army convoy in a deliberate attempt to inflict maximum casualties. The nature of the explosives used suggests a high-intensity blast, which caused severe damage to the vehicle and scattered debris across the road.
Sources said the area was immediately cordoned off by security forces, and a search operation was launched to clear the vicinity of any further threats.
Sources identified the martyred soldier as Lance Naik Tahir Saleem, whereas Naib Subedar Sajid, Sepoy Basit, Sepoy Zahid, and Sepoy Nisar are among the injured. In addition to military personnel, Zabihullah s/o Painda Khan, a civilian, in the nearby market area, was also injured due to the force of the explosion.
Emergency response teams rushed the injured to District Headquarters Hospital Khar and Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where several are reported to be in critical condition. Identities of the martyred soldiers and the injured have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.
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Security officials believe the attack bears the hallmarks of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or affiliated splinter groups, which have been increasingly active in Bajaur and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The incident comes amid a surge in militant violence in the region, targeting both security forces and civilians.
The attack has drawn strong condemnation from military officials and civil leadership, who vowed that such cowardly acts would not weaken the nation’s resolve in its fight against terrorism.
An official statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) is expected to follow, providing more details about the operation, casualties, and subsequent security measures in place.
