Suicide Car Bomb Attack at Pakistani Military Checkpoint Kills Four

A deadly suicide car bomb attack, followed by an armed assault, struck a military checkpoint near a village in north-west Pakistan on Friday, leaving four soldiers dead. The ensuing gun battle lasted for approximately one hour. Local authorities also reported that at least fifteen civilians, including women and children, were injured during the incident.

According to the Pakistani military and local police, the attack occurred in North Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province close to the Afghan border. The explosion caused significant structural damage, with surrounding homes collapsing and civilians sustaining injuries.

In an official statement, the military confirmed that all attackers were killed during the clash. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, the Pakistani army has attributed the attack to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Initial reports indicate that the assailants attempted to breach the checkpoint perimeter but were repelled. Subsequently, they detonated an explosive-laden vehicle against the outer wall of the facility.

The attack also damaged nearby homes and a mosque. Pakistani military officials stated that the operation had been planned and directed from across the Afghan border, although Kabul has yet to comment. Afghan authorities have repeatedly emphasised that they do not permit their territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan or any other country.

The Pakistani army has expressed hope that the Afghan Taliban authorities will prevent militants from using Afghan soil to launch assaults into Pakistan, while reaffirming Pakistan’s right to pursue terrorists and their accomplices.

Hours after the attack, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Afghan Taliban’s Deputy Head of Mission in Islamabad to formally protest. The ministry stressed that Islamabad demanded a thorough investigation and decisive action against those responsible for terrorist activities originating from Afghan territory. It also urged Kabul to take concrete, verifiable measures against all terrorist groups operating from within Afghan borders.

Attack Summary – North Waziristan, 17 December 2025

Analysts note that tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified since October, following an explosion in Kabul on 9 October that sparked cross-border clashes. Despite mediation efforts by Qatar and later Turkey, both sides failed to reach a conclusive agreement during subsequent negotiations in November.

Pakistan continues to accuse the Afghan Taliban of providing safe haven to TTP militants, while Kabul denies such claims, insisting that Afghan territory is not used to stage attacks against neighbouring countries.