Taliban Ambush Pakistani Checkpoint In South Waziristan, 6 Pakistani Soldiers Killed

The reports are all over the board here as to whether six or nine or 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a Taliban ambush of a checkpoint in South Waziristan this morning but either way, one of the biggest attacks on Pakistani military in a long time.  The military retaliated with the killing of at least 10 Taliban.

From the report at DAWN:

Six soldiers were killed when militants attacked a check post in the area of Badar in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed.

In retaliation, security forces reportedly killed at least 10 militants and a dozen militants had been injured, security sources told Dawn.com.

Dozens of militants armed with rockets and grenades stormed the checkpost in Farhang Baba Ziarat village, around 30 kilometres north of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan tribal district, a senior security official in Peshawar told AFP.

Six soldiers have been confirmed killed in the clashes and seven injured, the official said, adding that the toll was likely to rise. Ten militants were killed, he said.

Moreover, sources said that nine, and not six, soldiers had died in the attack.

I, personally, think this out of the blue attack is the Taliban's way of telling the Pakistani military that if they decide to start the operation in North Waziristan, the Taliban will step up attacks all over the northwestern part of the country - the message is that no operation better start in North Waziristan.  I still say the chances are slim for the operation but between civilians leaving North Waziristan and this attack, it might just be coming.

Six soldiers killed in South Waziristan clash, ISPR confirms


PESHAWAR: Six soldiers were killed when militants attacked a check post in the area of Badar in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed.

In retaliation, security forces reportedly killed at least 10 militants and a dozen militants had been injured, security sources told Dawn.com.

Dozens of militants armed with rockets and grenades stormed the checkpost in Farhang Baba Ziarat village, around 30 kilometres north of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan tribal district, a senior security official in Peshawar told AFP.

Six soldiers have been confirmed killed in the clashes and seven injured, the official said, adding that the toll was likely to rise. Ten militants were killed, he said.

Moreover, sources said that nine, and not six, soldiers had died in the attack.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack and said that they had killed at least a dozen soldiers.

TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said “we have killed more than a dozen soldiers in South Waziristan. Some of the soldiers have been beheaded”.

The area is cut off to journalists and aid workers and it was not possible to confirm the death toll independently.

South Waziristan was once the main stronghold for the Pakistani Taliban. The military launched a large offensive against militants there in 2009, but insurgents still operate in the area and periodically stage attacks.