At least 16 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy in Pakistan’s North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Attack was carried out by Pakistani Taliban
Over a dozen civilians, including children, were also injured in the incident. According to AFP reports, the attack was carried out by a member of the Pakistani Taliban, police and local government officials said.
A police officer said that the roofs of two houses collapsed due to the explosion, resulting in injuries to six children.
The suicide bomber wing of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur armed group, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Six Pakistan Army personnel killed in Balochistan
On June 27, The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for killing six Pakistan Army personnel in recent clashes across various regions of Balochistan. According to a statement by BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, three of its fighters were also killed during confrontations in Quetta, Kalat, and Siahji.
In the Kohak region of Kalat, BLA fighters reportedly launched a series of intense attacks targeting Pakistani military convoys using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and assault tactics involving motorcycles and other vehicles.
BLA patrol unit encountered Pakistan Army personnel
The statement further claimed that on June 22, a BLA patrol unit encountered Pakistan Army personnel in the Daghari region of Quetta, resulting in an armed clash. Earlier, on June 20, BLA fighters engaged in a firefight with Pakistani security forces in the Lingasi area of Dasht, during which Pakistani forces allegedly suffered casualties.
The Baloch Liberation Army is an armed separatist group operating in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet most underdeveloped province.
BLA advocated for an independent Baloch state
The group has long advocated for an independent Baloch state, citing historical grievances, political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and military repression by the Pakistani government.
The BLA has been accusing the state of exploiting Balochistan’s vast natural resources–such as gas, minerals, and coastal assets–without benefiting the local population. It also opposes large-scale infrastructure initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which it views as extractive and harmful to Baloch interests.
