Pakistan’s battle against militancy intensified with a suicide bombing at a Bhakkar security outpost, enforcing a total halt to traffic on the KP-Punjab highway. Striking late Tuesday near Dera Darya Khan bridge’s Dazil checkpost, the attack has left a trail of disruption during a sensitive religious period.
The bomber, captured on CCTV advancing toward the site, exploded around 7 PM, adding to the seven police deaths from recent assaults. Security was bolstered across Dera Ismail Khan and Bhakkar; Punjab forces blocked the bridge, stopped all vehicles, and scoured nearby zones.
Travelers endured prolonged jams, resorting to costlier paths. This follows PTI protest closures, already disrupting flows. Merchants in Dera Ismail Khan decry severed ties to Punjab trade hubs, foreseeing Ramadan hardships.
Sohail Ahmad Azmi, traders’ president, warned Dawn of impending Eid shortages: ‘Extended halts mean financial devastation and empty shelves.’ The economic paralysis underscores vulnerability in supply-dependent regions.
Annual figures from the Center for Research and Security Studies reveal KP’s terror deaths soaring from 1,620 (2024) to 2,331 (2025). As attacks proliferate against forces, the human cost mounts, straining resources and testing Pakistan’s resolve to restore safe passage and stability.