Suicide Attack Kills 7 Pakistani Troops Amid Fragile Truce with Afghanistan
The attack in North Waziristan raises tensions as a temporary ceasefire between the neighboring countries is set to expire.
A suicide bombing at a military camp in North Waziristan killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others on Friday, according to security officials. The incident puts a fragile ceasefire with Afghanistan at risk just hours before it was due to end.
The attack happened near the Afghan border, a region already tense from recent fighting. Officials reported that one militant drove a vehicle filled with explosives into the wall of a military fort. Two other militants then tried to enter the base on foot but were shot and killed by security forces.
So far, the Pakistani army has not issued an official comment on the attack.
This event comes after days of the most intense fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan in decades, which included ground battles and Pakistani airstrikes. The conflict paused with a 48-hour truce, scheduled to expire at 1300 GMT on Friday.
The core of the dispute is Pakistan’s claim that militant groups are using Afghanistan as a safe haven to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad has urged the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in 2021, to control these groups.
On Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that his country had “retaliated” due to a loss of patience but remained open to talks to resolve the issues.
The Afghan Taliban denies these accusations. They claim Pakistan is creating border tensions and spreading misinformation to destabilize Afghanistan.
The recent conflict has attracted international attention, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar stepping in to mediate. U.S. President Donald Trump has also said he could help find a solution.
