'Indian-sponsored' suicide attack martyrs 13 soldiers in North Waziristan

In a deadly attack, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Pakistani security forces  in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area on Saturday, martyring 13 soldiers and injuring three civilians, including two children and a woman.

According to a statement of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack was orchestrated through a vehicle-borne suicide bomber and was described as an act of “Indian-sponsored terrorism,” carried out by the proxy group Fitna al Khwarij. 

The military denounced the attack as a “cowardly act”.

Security forces initially intercepted the attacker, thwarting a potential high-casualty strike. However, the vehicle, laden with explosives, was later rammed into one of the lead military vehicles, resulting in multiple casualties.

In subsequent retaliatory operations, 14 terrorists were killed, and clearance operations is ongoing to neutralize further threats in the region.

The ISPR released the names of the martyred soldiers, who hailed from various areas in Pakistan:

Subedar Zahid Iqbal (45) from District Karak; Havildar Sohrab Khan (39) from District Naseerabad; Havildar Mian Yousaf (41) from District Buner; Naik Khitab Shah (34) from District Lower Dir; Lance Naik Ismail (32) from District Naseerabad; Sepoy Rohail (30) from District Mirpur Khas; Sepoy Muhammad Ramzan (33) from Dera Ghazi Khan; Sepoy Nawab (30) from District Quetta; Sepoy Zubair Ahmed (24) from District Naseerabad; Sepoy Muhammad Sahki (31) from Dera Ghazi Khan; Sepoy Hashim Abbasi (20) from District Abbottabad; Sepoy Muddasir Ejaz (25) from District Layyah; and Sepoy Manzar Ali (23) from District Mardan.