Deadly Suicide Bombing Targets Army Convoy in Northwest Pakistan, Killing 13 Soldiers

byTuba Ilyas •June 2, 2025•
Current & Social Issues
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Incident Overview

A devastating suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) attack targeted a Pakistani military convoy on Saturday, June 28, 2025, in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack resulted in significant casualties among security forces and civilians.

Attack Details and Location

The assault occurred in the Khadi Market area of Mir Ali, located in the North Waziristan district. According to security officials cited by the local media outlet Khyber Chronicles, the attacker detonated an explosive-laden vehicle near a convoy, specifically targeting a bomb disposal unit vehicle.

A local government official in North Waziristan confirmed to the AFP news agency that "a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy."

Casualty Figures

The attack caused severe loss of life and injury:

  • Fatalities: 13 soldiers were killed in the blast.
  • Injured: At least 24 personnel were wounded. Among the injured were 14 civilians.
  • Civilian Impact: The explosion's force caused the roofs of two nearby houses to collapse, injuring six children inside, according to a district police officer who spoke to AFP.

Claim of Responsibility

The armed faction Hafiz Gul Bahadur, which is part of the Pakistan Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context and Rising Violence

This incident marks one of the deadliest single-day attacks on Pakistani security forces in recent months within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It occurs amid a sharp escalation of violence in Pakistan's regions bordering Afghanistan.

  • Post-2021 Surge: Attacks have increased notably since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021.
  • Official Tally: According to an AFP tally, approximately 290 people—most of them security officials—have been killed in attacks by armed groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan provinces since the start of 2025.
  • Regional Tensions: The Pakistani government has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban administration of allowing militant groups to use Afghan soil to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan—an allegation the Taliban government in Kabul denies.

Official Response

At the time of reporting, there was no immediate official statement from the Pakistani military regarding the attack.