In a brazen act of sabotage, unidentified assailants demolished a vital bridge in Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, late last night. The explosion in Khushali (Makeen) village severed all road links to surrounding areas, plunging the region into isolation.
Security forces and police swiftly cordoned off the site upon receiving reports of the blast. Initial assessments reveal the structure was rigged with a substantial quantity of explosives, causing a thunderous detonation heard miles away. Local residents described scenes of panic as the night sky lit up with the fireball.
The destruction has inflicted severe hardships on daily life. Schoolchildren cannot reach classes, patients face delays in accessing medical care, and elderly residents struggle with mobility. Women heading to markets or family obligations are equally affected. Local businesses, already reeling from instability, report halted supplies, while farmers lament disrupted transport of produce.
Community leaders have condemned the attack in strongest terms, demanding immediate arrests, rapid reconstruction, and bolstered security patrols. ‘This is an assault on our lifeline,’ said one elder, voicing the collective frustration.
This incident forms part of a disturbing pattern targeting infrastructure. Just days earlier on January 15, militants blew up another bridge over the Kurram River in Shewa tehsil, disconnecting Miranshah and Bannu. These repeated strikes underscore escalating threats to law and order in this volatile district, raising alarms over the safety of critical transport networks.
Authorities are investigating the type of explosives used and potential militant involvement. Alternative routes, often treacherous mountain paths, are now overburdened, exacerbating the crisis. Restoration efforts are underway, but experts warn of prolonged disruptions without addressing root causes of militancy.