By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: At least one person has been killed and 19 others injured, including two security personnel, in a powerful explosion near a checkpoint in Pakistan’s North Waziristan district.
The blast struck close to the Chashma Sarbandki checkpost on the Bannu-Miranshah main road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday. Police sources said the detonation was caused by explosives inside a vehicle; officials have also described the incident as a suicide attack targeting the security post. The road was immediately closed to traffic. Security forces cordoned off the area and began gathering evidence as investigations continued.
At Miranshah’s district headquarters hospital, medical superintendent Dr Asif Iqbal said four of the injured were in critical condition and that an emergency had been declared, with additional victims still being brought in. Early hospital updates had not confirmed any deaths, while some initial reports spoke of at least 14 civilians wounded.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and demanded a detailed report from the provincial police chief. He described the injuries to civilians as deeply unfortunate, instructed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care with no negligence, and said such cowardly acts of terrorism could not undermine the resolve of the government or the public. All necessary measures would continue to protect citizens’ lives and property, he added.
The incident comes barely three weeks after another explosion in the neighbouring Bannu district on 16 February, when two people – including a child – were killed and 17 others injured by a time bomb planted on a motorcycle near the Miryan police station.
Pakistan recorded a sharp rise in terrorism-related violence last year, with more than a 25% increase in overall incidents. At least 3,187 people were killed across 1,188 violence-linked events, including terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations. The wave has continued into the new year. In January, coordinated militant assaults across Balochistan killed at least 18 civilians, particularly in Gwadar. Security forces said they killed 92 militants in the response but lost 15 personnel of their own. On 6 February a suicide bomber struck in Islamabad’s Tarlai area, killing more than 30 civilians.
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