At Least 13 Soldiers Killed in Suicide Bombing Near Afghan Border
A suicide car bomb attack in North Waziristan, Pakistan, killed at least 13 soldiers and injured multiple civilians on Saturday, according to Pakistani military officials. The blast struck a military convoy in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan, an area long troubled by insurgent violence.
The Pakistani army blamed the militant Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban, for orchestrating the attack. The group’s suicide bomber wing later claimed responsibility.
Tensions escalated further when Pakistan alleged Indian backing behind the attackers—an accusation strongly denied by New Delhi.
🔍 Key Developments in the Attack
- Location: Near Miranshah, North Waziristan, close to the Afghan border
- Casualties: 13 Pakistani soldiers killed; at least 3 civilians injured, including two children and a woman
- Claim of Responsibility: Suicide bomber wing of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction
- Pakistan’s Allegation: Attackers allegedly “backed by India” (no public evidence provided)
- India’s Response: “We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves.” — Randhir Jaiswal, India’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
📌 Why This Matters
The bombing is the latest in a wave of terrorist incidents across Pakistan following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in November 2022. North Waziristan has become a flashpoint in the region’s ongoing instability.
The attack also comes amid renewed hostility between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors with a fraught history.
💬 Official Statements & Reactions
“In this tragic and barbaric incident, three innocent civilians including two children and a woman also got severely injured.”
— Pakistan Army Statement
“We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves.”
— Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson, India’s Ministry of External Affairs
“I strongly condemn this cowardly act. The nation stands with our brave soldiers.”
— Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan
🌍 Context: Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply in recent months:
- April 2025: 26 tourists killed in a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir
- India Blames: Militant group allegedly based in Pakistan
- May 2025: India launches airstrikes targeting what it described as “terror infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir
- Pakistan Responds: With missile strikes and drone operations
- Ceasefire Agreement: Brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 10, halting hostilities
📈 Rising Militancy in Pakistan
Since the collapse of the 2022 ceasefire, Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in attacks:
- Frequent bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan
- Resurgence of groups like the TTP and factions such as Hafiz Gul Bahadur
- Increased military deployments along border regions
📷 Visual Suggestions
- Map: North Waziristan and tribal border region with Afghanistan
- Infographic: Timeline of India-Pakistan military actions (April–May 2025)
- Image: Aftermath of the convoy attack, showing military vehicles and first responders
📚 Related Topics
- Terrorism in Pakistan
- India-Pakistan Border Disputes
- Pakistani Taliban Resurgence
- Afghanistan-Pakistan Tribal Belt Security
