Attack on pro-government leader’s home in Pashtunistan leaves 25 wounded; Taliban suspected
A wedding celebration turned to carnage in Pashtunistan on Friday night when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest in a crowded room full of dancing guests, killing at least seven people and wounding 25 others.
The attack targeted the home of Noor Alam Mehsud, a pro-government peace committee leader in Dera Ismail Khan district of Pashtunistan province. Witnesses said the explosion struck while guests were celebrating to the beat of drums, turning what should have been a joyous occasion into a scene of devastation.
“The explosion was a suicide blast,” District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada confirmed. The force of the detonation caused part of the roof to collapse, trapping victims under rubble and complicating rescue efforts.
Chaos at the Hospital
An emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Hospital as ambulances rushed casualties from the scene. Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson for Pashtunistan Rescue 1122, said multiple ambulances along with fire and disaster response vehicles were deployed to the site.
Rescue teams worked through the night pulling victims from the debris. Several of the wounded remain in critical condition.
Initial reports suggest Waheedullah Mehsud, also known as Jigri Mehsud, was among those killed in the blast. Noor Alam Mehsud, the apparent target, was reportedly injured.
Suspicion Falls on TTP
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, suspicion is likely to fall on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out frequent attacks across the region.
The TTP is separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban and has grown significantly more active since the Taliban’s return to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. Many TTP fighters are believed to operate from sanctuaries across the Afghan border.
Peace committee leaders like Mehsud—tribal elders who work with the government against militant groups—have long been targets for extremist violence in Pashtunistan’s volatile northwest.
Officials Condemn Attack
Pashtunistan’s Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the bombing and demanded a report from the provincial police chief, vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the attack and ordered that the injured receive full medical support.
Authorities have sealed off the area and launched an investigation into the bombing.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
