In a bold strike amid Ramadan, a suicide bomber targeted security forces in Punjab’s Bhakkar, paralyzing the main artery between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The Tuesday evening explosion at Dazil checkpost near Dera Darya Khan bridge killed policemen and sparked an indefinite highway closure, stranding motorists and hammering trade.
CCTV evidence showed the attacker nearing the post before self-detonating at approximately 7 PM. This assault is part of intensified attacks felling seven officers recently. High alert ensued in Dera Ismail Khan and Bhakkar, with roads sealed, traffic halted, and searches underway in adjacent areas.
The blockade’s fallout is acute: vehicles queued for hours, passengers rerouted expensively. Echoing prior PTI demonstration shutdowns, it has fractured supply chains to Punjab’s bustling centers. Dera Ismail Khan traders are reeling, their access to essentials from Lahore cut off repeatedly.
Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajiran head Sohail Ahmad Azmi alerted that Ramadan and impending Eid amplify the crisis. ‘Businesses face ruin from these interruptions,’ he told Dawn, predicting shortages and losses if the route stays blocked.
KP’s security landscape has deteriorated markedly. The Center for Research and Security Studies reports a 44% surge in violence fatalities, from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025. This incident highlights the persistent threat, challenging Pakistan’s efforts to secure its restive northwest and maintain economic lifelines amid rising militancy.