pakistan-army-670
North Waziristan tribal district has become the most notorious Taliban and al Qaeda stronghold on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. – File Photo

MIRANSHAH: A remote-controlled bomb attack on Sunday killed three soldiers in Pakistan's troubled Waziristan district, where Islamabad has resisted US pressure to launch a full-scale offensive against an insurgency.

Pakistan security officials said the bomb targeted a military convoy which was moving from Mirali town to Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal district, which has become the most notorious Taliban and al Qaeda stronghold on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

“Three soldiers were killed and three were wounded in the blast. Their vehicle was completely destroyed,” a senior security official based in the region's main Peshawar city told AFP.

Another senior security official confirmed the incident and death toll, adding that a second military vehicle was also badly damaged.

Islamabad has told Washington that US forces must seal the Afghan border in the event of any offensive against the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network in North Waziristan, an official said Saturday.

The Haqqanis, blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan and whose leaders are understood to be based in the Pakistani tribal district, is one of the thorniest issues between Islamabad and Washington.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...