On Saturday, the Pakistani Taliban launched an attack on a military outpost near the Afghan border, resulting in the deaths of 16 soldiers and critically injuring five others, according to intelligence officials.
The siege began after midnight and lasted approximately two hours, with around 30 militants attacking the mountainous outpost from three sides, a senior intelligence official stated.
“Sixteen soldiers were killed, and five were critically wounded in the attack,” the official said.
The militants set fire to wireless communication equipment, documents, and other items at the checkpoint.
Another intelligence officer confirmed the casualty figures from the attack in the Makeen area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 40 kilometers from the Afghan border.
The Pakistani branch of the Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement, describing it as “retaliation for the martyrdom of our senior commanders.”
The group claimed to have seized a stockpile of military equipment, including machine guns and night vision devices.
The Pakistani military has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
Pakistan has been grappling with a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
