TTP Suspected as Blast Destroys Army Convoy Near Dera Ismail Khan
Pakistan’s struggle against insurgent violence intensified yet again as a suicide car bomb obliterated part of a military convoy near Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of [insert date], left 13 soldiers dead and at least 16 others wounded, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Preliminary intelligence points toward the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), although the group has not formally claimed responsibility.
BREAKING 🇵🇰🇦🇫🔥 Tehrik-E-Taliban strikes Pakistani military convoy near Waziristan and killed 13 Pakistani soldiers in a suicide drones at@cks. pic.twitter.com/w49nRMzUMo
— RKM (@rkmtimes) June 28, 2025
This assault follows a rising wave of militant strikes since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan, underscoring Islamabad’s deepening internal security woes. Political leaders have condemned the “cowardly act,” while the Pakistan Army has vowed “decisive action” against militant hideouts across South Waziristan and Tank districts.
How the Convoy Was Targeted—and Why TTP Remains Pakistan’s Biggest Internal Threat
Security sources say the attacker rammed an explosive-laden vehicle directly into the convoy, instantly destroying two army trucks and sparking a fireball visible for kilometres. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a massive blast followed by sustained gunfire, as soldiers attempted to secure the area. The injured were airlifted to Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar.
The convoy was reportedly en route to routine deployment when ambushed along a stretch notorious for insurgent activity. Analysts note the TTP has refined its tactics, favouring high-impact attacks that undermine troop morale and project operational reach. Since peace talks between Islamabad and the TTP collapsed in late 2023, the group has intensified assaults on security forces, exacerbated by porous borders and alleged safe havens across the Afghan frontier.
Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister condemned the blast, urging Kabul to “prevent cross-border terror” and pledging stricter security protocols in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Army has already launched search-and-destroy operations, deploying drones and special-forces units to hunt down suspected facilitators.
Despite multiple counter-insurgency drives, the TTP’s ability to strike hardened targets highlights persistent intelligence gaps and the need for stronger regional cooperation. With the annual Amarnath Yatra commencing in neighbouring India and fears of regional spill-over, South Asian security dynamics grow ever more complex.
