NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Another key bridge was blown up using explosives in the Mir Ali tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, causing severe difficulties for residents and triggering widespread anger.

According to the police, the explosion occurred in Khushhali (Makinah) village of Mir Ali, where unidentified assailants carried out the blast late at night, destroying the bridge and cutting off the area’s land connectivity with nearby settlements, markets and agricultural lands.

Soon after the incident, police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.

Per a police statement, the destruction of the bridge has paralysed daily life. Residents say that school-going children, patients, the elderly and women are the worst affected, while agricultural activities and local businesses have also suffered heavily. With no alternative routes available, ambulances and other emergency services are facing serious hurdles, adding to public distress.

Expressing strong resentment, local tribal elder Malik Din Sardar said, “This bridge was the lifeline of our area. Now it has become extremely difficult to transport patients to hospitals. How long will we keep paying the price for such actions?”

He questioned why ordinary citizens are made to suffer losses and hardships for no fault of their own.

Social activist Jalal Khan said, “We had pinned our hopes on peace, but repeated destruction of bridges shows that the hardships of common people are being ignored.”

Residents of the area strongly condemned the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible, urgent reconstruction of the bridge on an emergency basis, and improved long-term security arrangements to prevent such incidents in the future.

Police said the nature of the explosives used in the blast was being determined, evidence had been collected, and investigations were underway from multiple angles.

Official sources said search operations and intelligence-based actions had been intensified to bring the perpetrators to justice, while the restoration of a temporary alternative route for public convenience was also under consideration.

KP has seen a rise in attacks targeting infrastructure in recent months.

On January 15, another important bridge over the Kurram River was destroyed with explosives. Work on that bridge has yet to begin. Due to the prolonged hardships, many local tribes have reportedly started migrating to safer areas.

On Dec 7, terrorists blew up a link bridge in the Mamandkhel area of the Bannu district using explosive material, affecting public movement in the area. Within a span of a week, Mir Ali tehsil later witnessed two incidents of terrorists blowing up government schools.

November also saw two incidents of terrorists attempting to blow up bridges in Bannu. One plot was foiled by the police’s bomb disposal squad, while the improvised explosive device in the other detonated prematurely, killing the attacker.

A series of such incidents has not only raised serious questions about the security situation but has also made life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.

Public circles have urged the federal and provincial governments to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure in North Waziristan, provide immediate compensation for losses, and take concrete and effective measures to restore peace and order.