A deadly suicide car bombing in Pakistan’s North Waziristan district killed at least 14 army personnel and injured 25 others, including civilians. Pakistan has blamed India for the attack saying there was an involvement; however, New Delhi has categorically denied allegations.
The blast, one of the worst in the restive region in recent times, struck a military convoy in Khadi village during lunchtime, despite a curfew imposed to facilitate troop movement. Among the injured were 15 army personnel; and 10 civilians, including children. Pakistan’s military later revised the death toll to 13 army personnel and said three civilians — two children and a woman — were also wounded, Hindustan Times reported.
An initial investigation revealed that around 800km of explosives were used in the attack, which damaged several nearby homes. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the bombing. The group, which has a strong presence in the region, is considered one of the more dangerous militant outfits operating in northwest Pakistan.
In the aftermath, Pakistan blamed India for orchestrating the attack. However, on Sunday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a sharp rebuttal. “We have seen an official statement by the Pakistan Army seeking to blame India for the attack in Waziristan on 28 June. We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves,” the ministry said.
While Pakistan has also accused Afghanistan of harbouring militants, Kabul has consistently denied the allegations. The bombing has reignited regional tensions and drawn global attention to the fragile security situation along Pakistan’s western borders.
