India Rejects Pakistan's Accusation Over Waziristan Suicide Attack
| 2025-06-29
India strongly rejected Pakistan's accusation linking it to a deadly suicide bombing in North Waziristan. (Photo: PTI)
India dismisses Pakistan's claim that it was behind a deadly suicide bombing in North Waziristan, which killed 13 soldiers and injured civilians.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Saturday denying any involvement in the deadly assault in North Waziristan, describing Pakistan’s allegation as “deserving of contempt.”
“We have seen an official statement by the Pakistan Army seeking to blame India for the attack in Waziristan on 28 June. We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves,” the ministry declared.
The bombing occurred on Saturday when a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into a military convoy in Khadi village, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan. The blast, which took place during a curfew imposed to facilitate troop movement, killed 13 soldiers and injured at least 19 civilians, including children, according to figures reported by the news agency AFP.
Pakistan’s military also reported that three civilians were severely wounded, among them two children and a woman.
Initial investigations found that nearly 800 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack, which destroyed several nearby homes. The Associated Press cited local officials who described the blast as among the most destructive in recent months.
Responsibility for the bombing was claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a faction linked to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP has fought a long-running insurgency against the Pakistani state, seeking to impose its own version of Islamic governance.
In March, security analyst Abdullah Khan told the Associated Press that the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group posed a particularly serious threat, describing it as “more dangerous” than the main Pakistani Taliban leadership.
The group has been active in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, a region that has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Pakistan has frequently accused Afghanistan of allowing insurgents to operate from its territory. Afghan authorities deny these allegations, insisting they do not permit cross-border violence.
The latest bombing has intensified security concerns in Pakistan’s northwestern provinces. According to AFP, nearly 290 people—mostly soldiers and police—have been killed in similar attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces so far this year.
India and Pakistan have a long history of tensions, often trading accusations over militant activity. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have fought several wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, and their relations remain fraught over issues including Kashmir and regional security.
While Pakistan maintains that India was behind the Waziristan attack, no evidence has been presented to substantiate the claim.
Context
The Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction emerged from Pakistan’s tribal belt and has periodically pledged allegiance to the Taliban in Afghanistan. It has previously carried out bombings and ambushes targeting Pakistani security forces.
North Waziristan was once considered a stronghold for various militant groups until Pakistan launched military operations to regain control. Despite these efforts, sporadic attacks have continued, undermining Islamabad’s attempts to stabilise the region.
Relations between India and Pakistan periodically flare up over accusations of supporting insurgencies on each other’s soil, with both sides typically denying the charges. The latest exchange of blame follows a pattern in which high-profile attacks often lead to diplomatic friction.
Hindi in Maharashtra Schools: Thackeray Cousins Unite to Oppose Policy
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray announce a rare joint protest against the introduction of Hindi in Maharashtra schools, calling it an attack on Marathi identity.
| 2025-06-28
Tata Sons Allocates ₹500 Crore for Air India Crash Victims’ Trust
Tata Sons plans a ₹500 crore trust to support families affected by the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, providing long-term aid and compensation.
| 2025-06-28
Surge in IPO Activity: Eight Major Offerings Raise ₹19,000 Crore in June
The Indian IPO market saw a resurgence in June with eight large public offerings raising ₹17,688 crore, alongside 30 SME IPOs generating ₹1,329 crore.
| 2025-06-27
India Astronaut Shukla Aboard ISS as Axiom Space Mission Makes History
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian on the ISS during Axiom Space’s historic mission with SpaceX and NASA, highlighting India’s expanding role in human spaceflight.
| 2025-06-27
Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Reaches ISS in Historic Private Spaceflight
Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian in 41 years to reach the International Space Station, joining SpaceX's Axiom-4 mission launched from Florida.
| 2025-06-26