A deadly suicide attack has rocked Pakistan’s northwest, killing at least seven soldiers near the Afghan border just hours before Pakistani and Afghan delegations were due in Doha for ceasefire talks.
The blast happened at a security forces site in North Waziristan, a border area that has long seen violence. Officials say a bomber drove an explosive-packed vehicle into the main gate, then gunmen tried to push inside. Security forces fought back, killing several attackers and eventually regaining control, but not before troops were lost. Local authorities and security officials gave differing early tallies, but Reuters reported at least seven soldiers killed; another official account said four militants were killed during the assault.
The strike comes at a tense moment. Pakistan and Afghan representatives had agreed to a 48-hour truce after a week of sharp cross-border clashes that killed soldiers and civilians on both sides. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the ball is now in the Afghan Taliban’s court he’s repeatedly urged them to clamp down on Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the militant network accused of staging attacks from Afghan soil.
“If in 48 hours they want to resolve the issues and address our genuine demands, then we are ready,” Sharif told his cabinet, stressing that Pakistan expects the Taliban administration to stop militants using Afghan territory to plan strikes. He warned that if the ceasefire is just a ploy to buy time, Pakistan will not accept it.
Days before the attack, Pakistan’s military reported heavy operations against militant hideouts across the region, saying dozens of fighters had been killed in North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Bannu. Officials also reported a separate powerful blast in Bajaur district where an explosive-laden vehicle detonated on a road.
The violence underlines how fragile the truce is. Islamabad says it wants a lasting halt to cross-border attacks, along with a clear commitment from the Afghan side to act against militant groups like the TTP. For now, the talks in Doha and the lives of soldiers and civilians on both sides hang in the balance as tensions remain high.
