Lahore: In a chilling reminder of the persistent terror threats along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden motorcycle into a Pakistani army checkpoint here on Friday evening, unleashing devastation that claimed 18 lives, including five innocent children, and left over 30 others wounded.
The attack unfolded around 4:30 pm at Chashma Pul in Miranshah, the administrative hub of North Waziristan. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as the massive explosion targeted the security post and ripped through nearby bustling market areas, scattering debris and panic. Several soldiers were among the fatalities, though the Pakistani military has yet to disclose the exact toll on its personnel. The injured, many in critical condition, were rushed to the district headquarters hospital for urgent care.
The banned militant outfit Ustad ul Khorasan (USK) swiftly claimed responsibility for the assault. USK, an affiliate of the Ittihad ul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), operates under the command of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a notorious figure with deep roots in jihadist networks. Bahadur, once groomed by Pakistan’s ISI during the Afghan conflict, trained at camps run by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. He later shifted allegiances, joining the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after the 2007 Lal Masjid siege. He has since orchestrated attacks against Pakistani forces while funnelling fighters to Afghanistan and Kashmir.
Security forces cordoned off the site, launching a manhunt for accomplices amid heightened alerts in the volatile region. This incident underscores the fragile peace in North Waziristan, where cross-border militancy continues to fuel bloodshed.