A festive wedding in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa descended into carnage when a suicide bomber detonated amid revelers, killing six and maiming over ten. In Dera Ismail Khan, Noor Alam Mehsud—head of a key anti-terror peace committee—saw his home attacked late Friday evening.
Instant pandemonium followed the blast: screams, blood, and bullets as assailants fired wildly. Victims, including Mehsud, were ferried to hospitals in critical condition. The bomber, a mere 17-year-old per recovered remains, underscores radicalization’s toll on youth.
Express Tribune reports detail forensic hauls from the blast site, fueling a high-stakes probe. Authorities vow to trace handlers. CM Sohail Afriidi, incensed, seeks rapid accountability and has mobilized resources for the injured’s recovery.
Bordering Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reels from intensified militancy. Annual violence data shows a 25% uptick, with this province hit hardest: 68% of deaths, including civilians and forces. Prior hits on Mehsud and recent cop killings paint a dire security portrait.
The assault revives fears of TTP resurgence, exploiting porous frontiers. While officials harden resolve, communities grapple with fear. This wedding’s bloodbath demands not just retribution, but strategies to stem the radical tide poisoning Pakistan’s northwest.