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At least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and four others wounded after militants from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ambushed troops in South Waziristan’s Bar area on September 13, the military confirmed.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, soldiers were carrying out counterinsurgency operations when they came under heavy fire.
The military said its forces retaliated, killing 13 militants in the ensuing battle.
Local police sources, speaking to Radio Mashaal on condition of anonymity due to restrictions, confirmed the attack on a military vehicle in the Badar Faqir Sarai area.
The TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, quickly claimed responsibility. Its spokesman, Muhammad Khurasani, boasted that 30 soldiers were killed — a figure that could not be independently verified.
The assault marks one of the deadliest in recent weeks and underscores the group’s growing confidence since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
While the Afghan Taliban and the TTP are separate entities, they share close ties. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of harboring TTP leaders and fighters, with alleged support from India — charges both Afghanistan and India strongly deny.
The latest ambush comes just a day after militants attacked Frontier Corps troops in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing seven soldiers and injuring 13.
Pakistan’s security forces have ramped up operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent weeks amid a surge in militant activity.
On September 11, the army reported killing 19 insurgents during coordinated raids in Momand, North Waziristan, and Bannu districts.
The back-to-back attacks highlight the escalating threat posed by the TTP, which has intensified strikes on military convoys and outposts across the country’s northwest.
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