In a fresh wave of violence aimed at destabilising Pakistan’s tribal belt, Khawarij operatives launched coordinated attacks on security forces in South and North Waziristan, leaving several soldiers wounded and inflicting civilian casualties. The responsibility for the suicide bombing in North Waziristan was later claimed by a TTP-linked faction, exposing once again the malign nexus of violent extremism operating under religious cover.
The first attack took place in the Letai Sar area of South Waziristan, where Khawarij elements ambushed a military patrol. At least five soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire, with one reported to be in critical condition. The attackers managed to flee, exploiting the natural contours of the rugged terrain.
Shortly after, a far deadlier strike occurred in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, when a suicide bomber rammed into a security convoy near Khaddi Market. The blast caused extensive damage to surrounding homes and shops, killing and injuring several civilians, including women and children. The incident triggered widespread panic in the area and further underscored the Khawarij’s disregard for civilian life.
The Aswad al-Harb group, led by Mufti Sadiq Noor alias Talha, claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. The group is affiliated with the emerging network Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), an ideological offshoot of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Intelligence sources believe IMP operates as a proxy network, advancing hostile foreign agendas by targeting Pakistani state institutions and sowing sectarian discord under the pretext of religion.
Senior security officials condemned the attacks as part of a broader asymmetric strategy employed by Khawarij to undermine national stability. “These are not freedom fighters or religious warriors they are enemies of Islam and Pakistan, using suicide bombings and ideological deception as weapons against the people,” said one high-ranking officer. “They thrive on bloodshed, chaos, and betrayal.”
The suicide attack’s impact on civilian areas has reignited public anger, with tribal elders and religious scholars urging unity against the Khawarij insurgency. “This is not jihad. This is fasad. These elements are traitors — to the faith, to the people, and to the state,” a prominent elder from Mir Ali stated. “We must expose their lies and collectively confront this fitna with truth and resolve.”
Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have launched a high-level investigation into both incidents. Security operations are being intensified in the region to neutralise remaining Khawarij cells and disrupt their logistical and ideological networks.
“The Pakistani state will neither forget nor forgive,” said a military spokesperson. “Every drop of innocent blood will be avenged. The Khawarij and their facilitators will face the full force of justice — without exception and without delay.”
