ISLAMABAD: A suicide bomber targeted security personnel in Miran Shah, a small settlement in North Waziristan district, killing three soldiers and three children, said the military’s media wing, ISPR, on Sunday.
North Waziristan was once viewed as the hub of militancy in Pakistan before the security forces launched a major military operation in 2014 to drive out armed groups from the area.
While the initiative helped improve the general security situation of the country, the region continued to witness violent incidents against security personnel and local residents.
“A suicide blast occurred in the vicinity of Miran Shah, North Waziristan,” the ISPR said in an official statement. “Resultantly Lance Havaldar Zubair Qadir, age 33 years resident of Pakpatan, Sepoy Uzair Asfar, age 21 years resident of Haripur, Sepoy Qasim Maqsood, age 22 years, resident of Multan and 3 innocent children Ahmed Hassan age 11 years, Ahsan age 8 years and Anum age 4 years embraced shahadat [martyrdom].”
File photo of Pakistani soldiers Lance Havaldar Zubair Qadir, (L), Sepoy Uzair Asfar, (C), Sepoy Qasim Maqsood (R). (ISPR)
The statement added that intelligence agencies were investigating to identify the suicide bomber and his handlers and facilitators.
Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was grieved by the incident.
“Deeply saddened by the martyrdom of three soldiers of Pakistan Army & three children in a suicide attack in Miran Shah,” he said in a Twitter post. “Blood of our soldiers & citizens is a debt on us that we will repay by eradicating terrorism from our country. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.”
He also expressed his government’s resolve to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.
