Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Euronews
Euronews
Gavin Blackburn

At least five killed in roadside bombing in former Pakistan Taliban stronghold

At least five people have been killed and 11 others injured after a roadside bomb exploded and struck a vehicle carrying a government administrator in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.

The bombing happened on Wednesday in Bajaur, a district in north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Among the dead was Assistant Commissioner Faisal Sultan, according to the district police chief.

Waqas Rafique said the injured were transported to hospital, where several were listed in critical condition.

No group or individual has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Rafique said the blame is likely to fall on the Pakistan Taliban.

The group, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) often targets security forces and civilians in the region and elsewhere in the country.

TTP is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021 as US and NATO troops were in the final stages of withdrawing from the country after 20 years of war.

Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan and have even been living there openly since the Taliban takeover, which has also emboldened the TTP.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.