At least seven people were killed and 16 others were injured on Monday after a powerful bomb blast outside the office of pro -government peace committee in South Waziristan, North Western Pakistan.
The blast occurred in Vana, the main city of South Waziristan district, once considered a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in one region.
A local police chief, Usman Wazir was quoted by the associated press by the news agency, saying that the bomb specifically targeted the office of the peace committee, which publicly opposed Tehrak-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The committee also plays a role in resolving local disputes. Police authorities described the blast as “powerful”, leaving loss of significant casualties and losses at the scene.
No group claimed immediate responsibility for the attack. However, suspicion quickly moved towards TTP, which often targets organizations seen as cooperation with security forces, citizens and Pakistani state.
The Pakistani Taliban, while a separate unit, maintains a close relationship with the Afghan Taliban, who took power in Afghanistan in 2021, after the return of the US and NATO soldiers.
The Pakistan Army exploded just a day after the announcement was that it had killed 54 militants during an operation in the neighboring North Waziristan district. According to AP, those militants tried to cross from Afghanistan to Pakistan, underlining the continuous instability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The revival of the Pakistani Taliban has been a major concern for Islamabad, especially since many of its leaders and fighters have found safe shelter in Afghanistan after the Taliban acquisition.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s security situation is also tense in other areas. In a separate incident in Balochistan province, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on 25 April claimed responsibility for a deadly roadside bomb attack, killing ten Pakistani military personnel and injuring three others in Quetta.
The BLA stated that a remote-controlled IED was used to target a bomb disposal squad vehicle in the attack.
Pakistan wants to face threats from rebel groups in various provinces. While TTP is mainly centered on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and border areas, BLA has made a series of deadly attacks in Balochistan.
