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PESHAWAR/MIRANSHAH:
Life came to a standstill in North Waziristan on Sunday after unknown assailants blew up another key link bridge in Mir Ali tehsil, cutting off entire communities from markets, hospitals and agricultural lands, as police and security forces stepped up targeted operations against terrorist elements elsewhere in the province.
According to police, the bridge in Khushhali village of Makinah was destroyed late in the evening using explosive material, completely cutting off land access to nearby settlements.
Security forces immediately cordoned off the area and launched investigations while the blast left residents grappling with severe hardships.
Meanwhile, locals complained that school children, patients, the elderly and women were among the worst affected, with no alternative routes available for ambulances or emergency services. Agricultural activity and daily trade have also been severely disrupted.
Tribal elder Malik Deen Sardar expressed anguish over the destruction. “This bridge was the lifeline of our lives. Taking patients to hospital has now become a serious challenge. How long will we continue to pay the price for such actions?”
Social activist Jalal Khan echoed similar concerns. “We had set our hopes on peace, but repeated destruction of bridges shows that the suffering of ordinary people means nothing to anyone.”
He added that one force left innocent bodies behind while another made life unbearable by destroying infrastructure and leaving civilians trapped in between.
Residents strongly condemned the attack and demanded immediate arrest of those responsible, speedy reconstruction of the bridge and enhanced permanent security arrangements to prevent such incidents.
Police said evidence from the scene had been collected and the nature of the explosives was being ascertained.
