Overview

• 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.