An overnight attack by Islamist militants on a Pakistani army outpost near the Afghanistan border resulted in the deaths of 16 security personnel.

Sixteen security personnel lost their lives in an attack by Islamist militants in northwestern Pakistan early on Saturday, according to officials. The assault occurred at 2 a.m. (2100 GMT on Friday) on a security forces post. Police deputy superintendent Hidayat Ullah stated that the attackers employed both light and heavy weaponry during the attack. He added that a search operation is currently underway in the area.

A senior intelligence official, speaking anonymously, reported that the siege began shortly after midnight and lasted for approximately two hours. Around 30 militants launched the assault on the mountainous outpost, attacking from three sides. The official confirmed that 16 soldiers were killed, and five sustained critical injuries. The attackers also set fire to wireless communication equipment, documents, and other items at the checkpoint.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack but reported a higher death toll among security personnel. In a message shared on its WhatsApp channel, the group claimed that 35 security personnel were killed and 15 injured during the assault. The TTP did not provide information on any casualties among its fighters.

According to the TTP, the attack was carried out as retaliation for the "martyrdom of our senior commanders." The group further claimed to have seized military equipment, including machine guns and a night-vision device.

Pakistan has been grappling with a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021. The TTP, an umbrella organization comprising various Sunni Islamist militant groups, has long aimed to overthrow the Pakistani government and establish a strict Islamic system of governance. While distinct from the Afghan Taliban, the TTP shares a common ideology and pledges loyalty to its Afghan counterparts.

Islamabad has accused Afghanistan's ruling authorities of failing to address militants who use Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan.