N.WAZIRSTAN: An explosion at a madrassah in the Isori village of North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area resulted in the death of two children and injuries to eight others, security officials confirmed on Thursday. The blast was caused by leftover militant explosives, which children inadvertently triggered.
Sources indicated that the children were playing near abandoned explosive devices planted by militants, specifically members of the khawarij group, who had previously hidden improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to hinder security operations in the region.
Security authorities revealed that approximately 114 square kilometers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been identified as contaminated with landmines and IEDs. So far, the Pakistan Army has successfully cleared 82 square kilometers, with demining efforts actively ongoing in the remaining areas.
Incidents of children playing with explosives, mistaking them for toys, are unfortunately not uncommon. In a similar incident in August 2025, five children lost their lives, and 13 others, including two women, were wounded after a mortar shell exploded in the Langerkhel Surband area of Lakki Marwat district.
Police and rescue teams reported that a group of children had discovered a mortar round in nearby fields and brought it back to their village. When they started playing with the shell near an underground rainwater tank, it detonated, causing the fatalities and injuries. The explosion instantly killed five children and injured 13 more.
The authorities have reiterated the dangers of unexploded ordnance in conflict-affected regions and continue efforts to clear contaminated zones to prevent further tragedies involving children.
