The death toll from Saturday’s twin suicide attacks in North Waziristan continues to rise, with 13 security personnel martyred and at least 16 others wounded.
Nearly 40 civilians, including women and children, were also injured in the attacks, which struck at the heart of a high-alert military operation in the region.
The first blast occurred in the Khadi area, where a vehicle laden with explosives rammed into a security convoy amid a curfew enforced across the district.
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According to sources, the target was a bomb disposal team (BD team) on the move. The impact was devastating, triggering an intense firefight immediately after the explosion.
Those martyred in the Khadi blast include:
Subedar Zahid
Havaldar Mian Yousaf
Havaldar Sohrab
Naik Khitab Shah
Lance Naik Ismail
Sepoy Roheel
Sepoy Nawab
Sepoy Zubair
Sepoy Sakhi Gul
Sepoy Ramzan
Sepoy Hashim
Sepoy Manzar
Sepoy Mudasir
The injured personnel from the same attack were:
Naib Subedar Alam
Naib Subedar Tahir
Havaldar Wali Muhammad
Sepoy Shahab
Havaldar Tanveer
Sepoy Hafiz Ikram
Sepoy Qadeer
Sepoy Syed Arif
Sepoy Sakhawat
Sepoy Fayaz
Shortly after, a second suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) vehicle in the Dardoni area near the Pak-Afghan border at Ghulam Khan. This attack left four security personnel critically injured.
All wounded soldiers were airlifted to CMH Bannu for urgent treatment, while injured civilians were shifted to local hospitals.
The entire district remains under strict curfew, with the Bannu–Ghulam Khan Road closed for all movement. Security forces have intensified operations across the region in the aftermath of the attacks.
Funeral prayers for the martyrs were held at Bannu Cantonment, attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Peshawar Corps Commander, and the Inspector General of Police.
Field Marshal Munir later visited the injured soldiers at CMH, offering words of encouragement and commending their bravery.
The coordinated attacks have once again highlighted the grave security challenges facing Pakistan’s border regions.
