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A suicide car bomber struck a Pakistani military base in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali district on Friday, just as a 48-hour ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan expired. The attack, claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), targeted a fortified army camp near the Afghan border, deepening tensions between the two countries.
According to Pakistani state media, security forces foiled the assault, killing four attackers, while officials told Reuters that seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and 13 others wounded. The Associated Press, however, cited sources saying three militants were killed and no troops injured, underscoring confusion over the toll.
Witnesses said the bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the camp’s boundary wall, triggering a massive explosion that damaged nearby homes, followed by heavy gunfire. Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke rising from the site.
The strike comes amid escalating hostilities between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of sheltering TTP fighters responsible for cross-border attacks. The Taliban government has denied the charge, instead blaming Pakistan for harboring militants linked to ISIS and stoking instability along the frontier.
