A tragic incident along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border claimed the lives of two children and left three others injured after a mortar shell reportedly fired from the Afghan side landed on a residential house in the Ghulam Khan border area of North Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to local police officials, the incident occurred at approximately 8:45 PM on Sunday in Gul Lak Khel village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ghulam Khan Police Station. The mortar shell struck a civilian house, triggering a powerful explosion that caused severe structural damage and left several children trapped under debris.
Emergency responders and local residents rushed to the scene and immediately shifted the injured children to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Miranshah.
Police confirmed that one child died at the scene, while four others were transported in critical condition to the hospital. Hospital authorities later confirmed that another child succumbed to injuries during treatment, bringing the total death toll to two.
The deceased were identified as: Noor Wali (12), Matiullah (10)
The injured children include:Imanullah (6), Fatehullah (12), Shafiullah (10)
All injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment at DHQ Hospital Miranshah, where doctors say efforts are underway to stabilize their condition. Security sources and local authorities indicated that the mortar shell was fired from the Afghan side of the border, raising serious concerns about the continued presence of militant elements operating from territories under the control of the Afghan Taliban regime.
Analysts say the tragic attack highlights the growing security risks faced by border communities, where civilians particularly children remain vulnerable to cross-border militant activity. Experts also warn that militant groups operating from Afghan soil have increasingly resorted to indiscriminate attacks that endanger innocent lives, especially after suffering setbacks from Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
Security observers argue that the failure to curb militant networks within Afghanistan has allowed armed groups to use Afghan territory as a launching ground for attacks targeting Pakistani border regions, often with devastating consequences for local populations. Local residents of Ghulam Khan expressed deep grief and anger following the incident, calling for stronger measures to ensure the safety of civilians living along the volatile border belt.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while security forces remain on high alert in the region to prevent further cross-border aggression and protect civilian communities. The incident has once again intensified calls for accountability and decisive action against militant groups operating from Afghan territory, amid growing regional concerns about cross-border terrorism and civilian safety.
