14 Soldiers Killed in Suicide Attack by Militants in Northwestern Pakistan

25 Civilians and Others Injured
Pakistani Military Claims Indian Involvement

A suicide bombing in the northwestern border region of Pakistan near Afghanistan has resulted in around 40 casualties.

Gunfire Exchange Near Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Checkpoint

According to major foreign news outlets such as the Associated Press on June 29, a vehicle loaded with explosives rammed into a Pakistani military vehicle in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, on the previous day, killing at least 14 soldiers. The number of injured is 25, including 15 soldiers and 10 civilians.

Initial investigations revealed that approximately 800 kg of explosives were used in the attack, and surrounding houses also suffered severe damage. The official casualty figures announced by the Pakistani military are 13 soldiers killed and 3 civilians injured.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack as a "cowardly act," while Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir warned that any attempt to undermine Pakistan's internal stability would face resolute retaliation.

The Pakistani military announced that it had launched a military operation following the attack and killed 14 militants. Hafiz Gul Bahadur, an armed group active in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. Hafiz Gul Bahadur has previously carried out terrorist acts, including a bombing in March that killed 12 civilians.

Numerous extremist militant groups, aiming to overthrow the Pakistani government and establish a state governed by Sharia (Islamic law), are active near the northwestern border with Afghanistan. In a statement, the Pakistani military claimed that the militants responsible for the attack were supported by India, but did not provide specific evidence.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the Pakistani military's claim that India was behind the attack. On April 22, following a shooting attack in the disputed Indian-administered Kashmir region that killed 26 people, including tourists, Pakistan and India exchanged missile strikes before agreeing to a ceasefire. At that time, India accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, but Pakistan denied the allegation.