Pakistan: Bomb resembling a toy kills six children in South Waziristan June 25

Event

On Sunday, June 25, at least six children were killed as they were playing with a bomb that reportedly resembled a toy in a village located in the South Waziristan semi-autonomous tribal area, on the border with Afghanistan. Local officials are still investigating the origin of the explosive, although a Soviet-era device is suspected.

Context

Explosive devices resembling toys were airdropped in neighboring Afghanistan by Soviet forces during the conflict in the 1980s.

The security situation in South Waziristan remains volatile, as it is currently the focus of counter-insurgency operations by the Pakistani government. South Waziristan is also a center of Taliban and Al-Qa'ida activity.

Advice

Due to a high threat from terrorism, kidnapping, and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan, some Western governments advise their citizens against nonessential travel to the country, where foreign nationals, in particular Westerners, may be directly targeted.