Pakistani troops have been fighting for years against homegrown insurgents in the area. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The bomb struck on a road under construction, five kilometres north of Miranshah, the main town of the district of North Waziristan, known as a strong bastion of Taliban and al Qaeda linked militants.
"An improvised explosive device planted along the roadside went off near a military truck, killing seven soldiers and wounding 12 others," a local intelligence official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
He said that the soldiers were providing security to workers building the road between Miranshah and the area of Ghulam Ali.
Another intelligence official confirmed the attack and casualties.
Pakistan goes to the polls in a general election on May 11 but there are fears that violence will impact voter turnout in the northwestern tribal belt.
Pakistani troops have been fighting for years against homegrown insurgents in the area, where the United States has accused them of not doing enough to crack down on Taliban and other militants active in Afghanistan.
Washington considers the tribal belt the main hub of Taliban and al Qaeda militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan.
Pakistan says more than 35,000 people have been killed as a result of terrorism in the country since the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
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Pay and buy these poor boys some Mine Resistant vehicles!!!! They are being sent to the slaughter house in open trucks and Toyota Hilux vehicles.
80% of the PA casualties are happening due to IEDs blasting the open trucks. The cost of the compensation and care for the injured will easily surpass the cost of introducing mine resistance vehicles.
Well, sitting across the border one feels sorry for the soldiers getting killed at the hands of these barbarians. But I have never been able to understand the strategy employed by the military against a formidable and ruthless opponent. No operations were conducted for the past couple of months which was utilised by Taliban to consolidate and entrench themselves firmly which the military is finding it extremely difficult to dislodge them. This is just a temporary setback but the Pak army has enough firepower and resources available to achieve a final victory.
There is no outrage on the brutal and cowardly killings of our poor soldiers and civilians. If only a couple of questionable people were killed by an American there was extreme outrage despite the apologies and compensation. Most rightwing parties and their leaders were up in arms but there is no dharna or agitation against the killing of secular leaders and our soldiers. The terrorists are doing a job that Zia could not complete. Now they want to bring Zia's political offspring to power without any opposition. One more time the rightwing leaders are going to steal the elections on the backs of terrorists.
I feel so bad for our soldiers who live under constant threats, Please nuke the terrorists and end the story.
R.I.P :(