A suicide bomber attacked an army convoy in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwestern Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 soldiers and injuring many others. The incident occurred at Khadi Market in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, as reported by local media outlet Khyber Chronicles, citing security sources.
The bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into the military convoy before detonating the explosives near a bomb disposal unit, drawing a tragic toll of casualties. According to reports, at least 24 individuals were injured, including 14 civilians.
A local government official in North Waziristan confirmed to the AFP news agency, “A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy.” The explosion was powerful enough to cause the roofs of two nearby houses to collapse, resulting in injuries to six children, as stated by a police officer in the district.
This attack marks a significant escalation, being one of the deadliest single-day strikes against security forces in recent months within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As of now, there has been no official statement from the Pakistani military.
The Hafiz Gul Bahadur armed group, a faction of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has experienced a surge in violence, particularly along its border regions, with officials accusing Afghanistan of harboring groups that carry out attacks within Pakistan—a claim the Taliban has denied.
This year alone, approximately 290 individuals, primarily security personnel, have lost their lives in attacks carried out by armed groups operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to data compiled by AFP.