A devastating suicide bombing rocked the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on Saturday, killing at least 16 Pakistani soldiers and injuring over two dozen others, including civilians, according to local media and security sources.

The attack, one of the deadliest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent months, targeted a military convoy in the bustling Khadi Market area.

The explosion occurred when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a bomb disposal unit vehicle belonging to the 22 Frontier Force Regiment. The blast claimed the lives of 16 military personnel and left at least 24 people wounded, including 14 civilians, as reported by the regional news outlet Khyber Chronicles. Security officials described the attack as a coordinated and high-impact strike, underscoring the growing threat of militancy in the region.

A local militant faction, reportedly led by Hafiz Gulbahadar, has claimed responsibility for the assault, though the Pakistan Army has yet to release an official statement. The military has intensified intelligence-based operations across Waziristan, Khyber, and Kurram districts in response to a surge in attacks targeting security forces.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of orchestrating such attacks, alleging that the group operates from sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan. The Afghan government has consistently denied these claims.

Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the bombing, vowing to bring those responsible to justice. The attack highlights the ongoing security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Pakistan grapples with a resurgence of militant violence. (ILKHA)