At least nine soldiers killed in Pakistan suicide attack
Al JazeeraDec 24, 2022
The Facts
At least 17 people were killed and more than 50 injured after explosions rocked a counter-terrorism office in northwest Pakistan on Monday, local officials have said.
The blasts — which took place in Swat valley, a region historically home to many Islamic militants until they were forced out by a government operation in 2009 — was initially blamed on terrorism, but officials later clarified there was no evidence of an attack.
The Spin
Narrative A
While the nature of the blast is still being investigated, there is no evidence at this stage to suggest it was a terror attack. Early searches suggest that a short-circuit in an ammunition depot is to blame for this tragic loss of life. Speculation should be kept to a minimum for now.
Narrative B
While this particular incident may not have resulted from the actions of local insurgents, there has been a dramatic uptick in attacks by terrorist groups since late last year. Pakistan's government needs to take assertive action to ensure that terrorism is not able to flourish in this region as it once did.
