Pakistan blames India for deadly car bombing in North Waziristan

On June 28, 2025, a car bombing targeted a Pakistani military convoy in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district, claiming the lives of at least 13 soldiers. The explosive-laden vehicle rammed into the convoy as it was making its way through this volatile region, notorious for harboring Islamist militant groups that operate between Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to military reports, the incident also left three civilians, including two children and a woman, severely injured. In response to the attack, the Pakistani military launched a counterinsurgency operation in the vicinity, resulting in the death of at least 14 gunmen, presumably linked to the insurgents responsible for the car bombing. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, branding it a "cowardly act," while the Army Chief Asim Munir declared that any efforts to destabilize Pakistan would be met with swift retaliation. Following the attack, the Pakistani military accused India of offering support to the insurgents behind the bombing, labeling the act as an operation executed by an Indian proxy. India quickly rejected these allegations, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denouncing the claims as contemptible. This exchange has reignited tensions between the two nations, with each side exchanging accusations amid ongoing security concerns in the region. The North Waziristan area has been a crucible of violence for years, where militants allegedly operate training camps to plan and execute cross-border attacks against Pakistan. While Islamabad claims that these groups receive support from Afghanistan, the Kabul government rebuffs this assertion, maintaining that militancy is a matter of Pakistan's internal issues. The cycle of violence and blame continues, complicating efforts toward stability in a region that is already fraught with conflict.