PESHAWAR – At least 13 soldiers have been martyred and nearly 30 people injured – including women and children – after a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a military truck in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on Saturday morning, according to officials.
The attack took place in Khaddi Market, a busy commercial area of the town, when a convoy of military vehicles was passing through. Police and military officials in Miramshah said the assailant was driving a small Suzuki pickup truck packed with explosives, which struck a military vehicle carrying bomb disposal personnel.
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The explosion was powerful enough to damage surrounding buildings, with local police confirming that rooftops of at least two homes collapsed, injuring several residents. Among the wounded were six children. Authorities said 13 soldiers died on the spot, while 10 others were wounded. In total, 29 people were injured, including 19 civilians.
Rahmatullah, a resident of Khaddi village, said the explosion shook the area around 6am. “The blast shook our entire neighbourhood. Our neighbours’ home collapsed and their family members, including women and children, were seriously injured,” he told the media.
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The hardlinr Militant group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s s Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction later claimed responsibility for the bombing. The group, which has previously carried out similar attacks in North Waziristan and surrounding areas, said it had specifically targeted the military convoy.
Officials confirmed that the vehicle hit was part of a bomb disposal unit, and said the suicide attacker had emerged from within the market area before ramming into the truck. A senior administrative officer in Miramshah described the impact as causing “massive casualties”.
At the time of the blast, a curfew had been imposed in parts of the district due to heightened security concerns. The incident has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of existing security measures and how the attacker was able to reach the convoy despite roadblocks and surveillance.
Local authorities said rescue operations were swiftly launched, and that those injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Security has since been tightened further across the region.
North Waziristan has long been one of Pakistan’s most sensitive areas in terms of security, with a history of militant activity and repeated military operations aimed at curbing insurgency. While officials maintain that intelligence-based operations against militant groups are ongoing, local communities have expressed growing frustration over the persistent threat to civilian life.
In recent months, residents have held several protest demonstrations calling for improved security and long-term peace. Many accuse both civilian and military leadership of failing to restore lasting stability to the area. Authorities have acknowledged the challenges but say counterterrorism efforts will continue.
