Seven soldiers have been killed in an attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban in the country’s North Waziristan tribal region, military sources told RFE/RL.
The sources said on September 15 that the attack was carried out in the Asman Manza area overnight.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack as well as a suicide attack in neighboring South Waziristan on September 13 that claimed the life of a soldier.
Pakistan’s northwestern tribal regions have long served as sanctuaries for extremist groups.
For years the military carried out massive operations to clear the area of militants and many fighters crossed into Afghanistan or hid in the mountainous terrain.
The latest attacks in North and South Waziristan come a month after the Afghan Taliban toppled the Western-backed government in Kabul.
Pakistani officials have met with Afghan Taliban leaders in recent weeks, reportedly demanding that the hard-line Islamist group rein in TTP militants, who are said to enjoy sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan.
