A bomb blast targeting a military truck killed seven soldiers, including an officer, on Sunday in the Lakki Marwat district of northwestern Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, according to the Pakistan army.
Tribal Region a Safe Haven for Islamist Militants
Kabul 24: The improvised explosive device exploded near the military vehicle, killing seven soldiers, including an officer, the army said in a statement.
The incident occurred in the Lakki Marwat district, which is on the edge of a lawless tribal region divided on both sides of the border. This region has long been a safe haven for Islamist militants who operate on both sides of the border.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Behind the Attack?
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of Islamist and sectarian militant groups, has been waging a war against the state to try to overthrow the government and run Pakistan as an Islamic state governed by its own harsh interpretation of Islam.
Pakistan Accuses Afghanistan of Not Doing Enough
Islamabad says the TTP leaders have taken refuge in neighboring Afghanistan, where they run camps to train Islamist militants to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have soured in recent months, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of not doing enough to tackle militant groups targeting Pakistan