A remote-controlled bomb detonated near a police van in Wana Rustam Bazar, South Waziristan, on Monday, injuring 13 individuals, including six police officers and seven civilians. The attack took place on Kir Kot Road while police were securing an ongoing anti-polio campaign, according to a hospital source quoted by Geo News.
Police quickly responded to the scene, with rescue teams transporting the wounded to District Headquarters Hospital Wana. One critically injured person was later transferred to Dera Ismail Khan for advanced treatment. Medical Superintendent Hamad Mahmood confirmed the injured included both civilians and police personnel, with the blast targeting one of two police vehicles assigned to protect polio workers.
Authorities have sealed off the area, and an investigation is underway to capture those responsible, according to Geo News.
District Health Officer Inayat Rahman said the anti-polio campaign, which began today, aims to vaccinate about 70,000 children aged five and older. To ensure the safety of the 297 polio teams involved, 480 police officers have been deployed across the district.
This attack underscores the ongoing risks to both security forces and polio teams operating in Pakistan’s volatile north-western regions. Over the past decade, numerous assaults on polio workers have been reported, creating a dangerous atmosphere for those involved in vaccination campaigns, Geo News reported.
Earlier this year, similar attacks in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts also led to injuries among police officers on polio duty, further highlighting the persistent threats in these areas.