Suicide car bomb attack kills 14 soldiers in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: A suicide car bomb attack targeted a Pakistan army military convoy in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in significant casualties. At least 14 soldiers were killed and over 24 others injured in the attack, according to officials.

A 'fidayeen' rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a mine-resistant vehicle belonging to the bomb disposal unit, a source said. The explosion caused widespread damage and the casualties. Security sources said over 500 kg of explosives was used in the attack to breach an ambush protected vehicle.

The Hafiz Gul Bahadur (HGB) group, linked to the Afghan Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the attack, attributing it to their ongoing operation 'Khandak'. HGB is a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction operating primarily in North Waziristan and adjacent districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's former Federally Administered Tribal Areas region. Led by tribal leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the group also maintains ties with the Haqqani Network.

In July last year, militants from this group had launched a pre-dawn attack on the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The fighters breached defences and detonated a vehicle-borne explosive, damaging cantonment infrastructure. Eight soldiers were killed and over 141 injured, including seven civilians.

Saturday's VB-IED (vehicle borne-improvised explosive device) attack is the second strike on Pakistan military personnel in a week. A dozen soldiers, including Major Moiz Abbas, who had claimed capture of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman during operation Balakote, was killed in the attack in South Waziristan a few days ago.