Car Bomb Accidentally Explodes in Former Pakistani Taliban Stronghold, Killing 7

At least seven people were killed, including two children, after a powerful car bomb accidentally detonated early Thursday in the town of Mir Ali, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The explosion occurred before dawn in the home of a militant commander, Rasool Jan, while he was reportedly preparing the bomb.

Local police official Irfan Khan confirmed that the explosion led to the collapse of the house, which was destroyed by the blast. Pakistani Taliban members quickly arrived at the scene, retrieving the bodies of the five suspected militants who died in the explosion. Later, authorities recovered the bodies of two children who were killed in the blast. The explosion also caused extensive damage to surrounding homes, injuring at least 14 people, including women. Some of the injured are in critical condition, though further details on their status have not been provided.

Police Believe Bomb Was Intended for Attack on Security Forces

Local authorities suspect that the car bomb was meant for an attack in the region, where the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups frequently target security forces with firearms, grenades, rockets, and suicide bombings. The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have long operated in the northwest of the country, often clashing with Pakistani security forces.

Separate Suicide Bombing Incident in Charsadda District

In a separate incident on the same day, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle accidentally triggered an explosive device in Charsadda district, killing himself but injuring no one else. Local authorities, including Masood Khan, confirmed the incident, stating that investigators are examining whether the bomber was carrying the explosives or if they were attached to the motorcycle. The intended target of the attack remains unclear.

The Pakistani Taliban, who operate independently from the Afghan Taliban, have been emboldened since the latter’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, with increasing attacks on security forces and civilians in the region.