Pakistan, two separate calamities—one orchestrated by extremist militants and the other by nature—have left the nation mourning and struggling to recover. A deadly suicide bombing in the tribal district of North Waziristan claimed the lives of 16 soldiers and wounded dozens more. Almost simultaneously, flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains killed at least 11 people, including four children and three women, in the mountainous regions of the country.
While each disaster on its own would have presented a severe blow to Pakistan’s stability, together they represent the dual challenges that continue to plague the country: surging militant violence and the escalating impact of climate change.
On Thursday afternoon, a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle laden with explosives into a military convoy traveling through the volatile district of North Waziristan, in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The explosion was so powerful that it tore through the heavily armored convoy and collapsed the roofs of nearby civilian homes.
“A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy,” said a local government official who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to the media. Initially, 13 soldiers were reported dead, but the death toll later rose to 16 as critically injured soldiers succumbed to their wounds.
According to a police officer stationed in the district, six children were injured when the roofs of their homes collapsed due to the blast’s shockwave. At least two local government employees and a number of police officers were also wounded.
The attack was quickly claimed by the suicide wing of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction, a splinter group of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. Once considered to be dormant, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group has resurfaced in recent months as a formidable threat in the region, having previously operated under informal truces with the Pakistani military.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan has experienced a significant spike in terrorist attacks, especially in its tribal regions bordering Afghanistan. Islamabad has consistently accused the Taliban regime in Kabul of turning a blind eye—or even providing safe haven—to TTP militants operating from Afghan soil.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, more than 290 people, mostly security personnel, have been killed in militant attacks since January 2025. These include targeted killings, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, ambushes, and suicide bombings. The majority of these attacks have occurred in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which together form the epicenter of Pakistan’s long-running insurgency problem.
“The pattern is deeply concerning,” said retired Lt. Gen. Amjad Shoaib. “The militants appear to have regrouped and reorganized under a broader ideological umbrella following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Our western borders are more porous than ever.”
However, the Taliban government in Kabul has rejected Pakistani allegations, maintaining that it does not allow foreign militants to use Afghan territory to launch attacks. Despite this, communication between Islamabad and Kabul on the issue remains strained.
While the military bears the brunt of these attacks, civilians are often caught in the crossfire. The collapse of homes in Thursday’s bombing highlights the collateral damage suffered by communities in conflict zones.
“It was around 2:45 p.m. when we heard a huge explosion,” said Haji Ghulam Rehman, a resident of the area. “Our walls cracked, and children screamed. It was like an earthquake.”
The resurgence of such high-impact attacks suggests that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategy may require urgent recalibration. As the military struggles to suppress the insurgency, questions are being raised about intelligence coordination, border security, and the efficacy of rehabilitation programs for surrendered militants.
While North Waziristan reeled from the suicide bombing, the province’s northeastern region of Swat Valley was inundated by torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that at least 11 people died in the past 24 hours, including four children and three women. Another six were injured, and more than 56 houses were damaged—six of them completely destroyed.
The Swat Valley, once a tourist haven known for its natural beauty and cool climate, has increasingly become prone to climate-related disasters. Local media reported that entire families were swept away while camping near a riverbank, a tragic scene reminiscent of Pakistan’s catastrophic floods in 2022.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned that the threat of further heavy rains and flash flooding remains high until at least Tuesday, with emergency response teams on high alert.
Emergency responders, including police and army rescue units, have been deployed to affected areas, with helicopters used to evacuate stranded families. However, rescue efforts have been hampered by destroyed bridges and submerged roads, complicating access to remote communities.
“Our roads are gone, our livestock are dead, and now we don’t even have a roof over our heads,” said Bibi Salma, a resident of the Kalam region in Swat Valley. Her family of seven has taken shelter under a tarpaulin set up by a local NGO.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has allocated emergency funds and relief supplies, including tents, dry food, and medical aid. Yet the scale of destruction suggests that much more will be needed.
Pakistan is considered the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is disproportionately affected by extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and glacial lake outburst floods.
In the past two years alone, the country has faced record-breaking heat, hailstorms in the spring, and deadly floods that killed thousands and displaced millions. Scientists warn that these events will only grow in frequency and intensity.
Climate experts point to the lack of sustainable urban planning, deforestation, and poor drainage infrastructure as factors exacerbating the impact of climate disasters in Pakistan.
The twin crises have triggered swift responses from both domestic and international actors. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the suicide attack and vowed a strong response.
“Our brave soldiers sacrificed their lives to protect the nation. We will not rest until every terrorist has been eliminated,” he said during a press briefing.
The military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also issued a statement warning that “such cowardly acts cannot weaken the resolve of our forces.”
Meanwhile, climate activists and opposition politicians criticized the government for insufficient preparedness in the face of natural disasters.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, tweeted: “Another monsoon, another tragedy. When will we invest in climate resilience, early warning systems, and disaster-proof infrastructure?”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a statement expressing solidarity with the victims and pledging to support relief operations.
Pakistan now finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. On one hand, it must urgently address the growing militancy that threatens national cohesion and regional peace. On the other, it must brace itself for the onslaught of climate-induced disasters that endanger the lives and livelihoods of millions.
Experts warn that without a comprehensive, integrated national security and climate resilience strategy, the country could spiral into a cycle of violence and disaster from which recovery will be difficult.
“This is not just a law-and-order problem or an environmental issue—it is a national survival challenge,” said Dr. Ayesha Siddiqua, a security analyst and former government advisor. “We must think beyond reactionary measures and build long-term capacity—both to combat extremism and to safeguard against climate shocks.”
The past week has offered a stark reminder of the multi-dimensional crises Pakistan faces. The suicide bombing in North Waziristan underscores the unrelenting threat of terrorism that continues to claim the lives of its brave soldiers and innocent civilians. Meanwhile, the deadly floods in the Swat Valley serve as a wake-up call about the severity of climate change and the nation’s inadequate disaster preparedness.
