Pakistani Taliban Launch Deadly Attack on Military Checkpoint

Militants claim responsibility for killing 16 soldiers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, escalating violence near the Afghan border.

The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) attacked a military checkpoint in South Waziristan early Saturday, killing 16 soldiers and critically injuring five others, according to security officials.
The assault involved around 30 militants using light and heavy weapons, targeting the outpost from three sides during a two-hour siege.
The TTP claimed the attack was retaliation for the deaths of senior commanders and alleged they killed 35 soldiers, a figure higher than official reports.
The militants reportedly seized military equipment, including machine guns and a night vision device, and destroyed communication gear at the site.
This attack is part of a broader surge in militant violence in Pakistan’s western regions since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, straining Islamabad-Kabul relations.