Peshawar: At least 11 Pakistani soldiers, including two officers, were killed in a deadly ambush by Islamist militants on Wednesday near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, according to security sources. The attack took place in the North Waziristan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a known hotspot for militant activity.
According to officials familiar with the incident, the military convoy was first hit by roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs) before being targeted with heavy gunfire by a large group of armed insurgents. The convoy, part of a routine patrol mission in the region, suffered heavy casualties in the surprise assault.
Pakistani Taliban Issues Statement
Shortly after the attack, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility through a statement shared with journalists. The group, which has intensified its operations in recent months, said its fighters were behind the well-coordinated strike.
The TTP, an umbrella organisation of various extremist factions, has long sought to impose its version of Islamic law across Pakistan and has been responsible for a surge in attacks on security forces over the past year.
Silence from Military Officials
Pakistan’s military has not yet issued an official statement on the ambush. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, declined to comment when contacted by reporters.
The incident marks one of the deadliest militant attacks on Pakistani forces in recent weeks and underscores the growing challenge posed by the TTP, particularly in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, where security operations remain ongoing.
Tensions Between Islamabad and Kabul
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the TTP of using Afghan territory as a safe haven to launch attacks on Pakistan — a claim the Taliban-led government in Kabul has consistently rejected. Despite several rounds of dialogue and cross-border coordination efforts, tensions between the two neighbours have deepened over security concerns.
Analysts say the resurgence of the TTP poses a significant threat to regional stability, especially after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, which emboldened like-minded groups operating in the region.
Rising Casualties Amidst Intensifying Violence
This latest attack is part of a worrying trend, as Pakistani security forces face increasing violence in areas along the western frontier. Since the start of 2023, hundreds of personnel have been killed or injured in similar attacks.
The government has vowed to root out militancy through intelligence-based operations and targeted military action. However, the frequency and scale of such attacks suggest that extremist networks remain deeply entrenched in some areas, despite years of military campaigns.
Calls for Stronger Action
Following Wednesday’s attack, calls have grown louder within political and civil society circles for the government to reassess its counterterrorism strategy. Many believe a tougher stance on militant sanctuaries and enhanced border security coordination with Afghanistan is essential to stem the tide of violence.
As Pakistan mourns the loss of its soldiers, the ambush serves as another grim reminder of the ongoing fight against extremism and the complex dynamics at play along one of the world’s most volatile borders.
