12 Pakistani soldiers killed in Taliban ambush in South Waziristan, TTP claims responsibility

PTC Web Desk:  At least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in an ambush by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in South Waziristan on Saturday morning, local officials confirmed. The attack, one of the deadliest in recent months, also left four security personnel injured.

According to authorities, a military convoy came under heavy fire at around 4 am when armed assailants attacked from both sides using automatic weapons. The attackers also seized weapons from the convoy before fleeing the scene.

The TTP, commonly referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, later claimed responsibility for the assault through a social media post.

This strike marks one of the most severe in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a region where the TTP once maintained strong control before a large-scale military offensive pushed them back in 2014. However, since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, militant violence has surged along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of allowing TTP fighters to use Afghan territory for cross-border attacks, allegations that Afghan authorities continue to deny. Local reports have also highlighted rising fears of the TTP regaining influence, with graffiti linked to the group appearing across several districts.

According to information, more than 460 persons, mostly security personnel, have been killed in militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since January 1 this year. In 2023, Pakistan witnessed its deadliest year in nearly a decade, with over 1,600 fatalities reported — nearly half of them security forces — as per the Centre for Research and Security Studies.