Double suicide bombing at military base in Pakistan leaves 21 dead

A devastating double suicide bombing occurred at a military base in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The incident has resulted in the deaths of 21 people, including 6 attackers.

Among the deceased, 15 were civilians, including 4 children and 2 women. It has been reported that the attackers were members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to Geo TV.

A military officer, speaking to Reuters, stated that two explosive-laden vehicles entered the area near the military base on Tuesday (March 4) evening while people were breaking their fast for Ramadan, and explosions occurred almost immediately. The blasts caused the roof of a nearby mosque and a house to collapse.

The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital. A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed that all 15 deceased were civilians, and many of the 25 injured individuals are in critical condition.

Just one day earlier, on Monday (March 3), a suicide bombing at a madrasa in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the deaths of 6 people, including a local Taliban leader.

Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021, there has been a significant increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. According to government data, more than 1,600 people were killed in various attacks from January to December 2024, including 685 police and military personnel.

The highest number of attacks has occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The TTP and its affiliated groups are responsible for these attacks, and the TTP operates with the support of the Afghan Taliban.

In July of last year, a TTP affiliate, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, conducted a suicide car bombing targeting a military post near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, resulting in the deaths of 8 soldiers and 10 militants.