 |
| Two soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Pakistan | Photo: AFP |
Sixteen soldiers were killed and five others seriously injured in an attack by armed men on a checkpoint along the Pakistani-Afghan border, two intelligence officials said Saturday. The attack took place on Friday night.
A senior intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that more than 30 people took part in the attack on an army checkpoint in the Makin area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He added that 16 soldiers were killed and five others were seriously injured in the attack.
The official said the armed men burned wireless communication equipment, various documents and other items at the checkpoint before fleeing. The attack took place inside Pakistan, 40 kilometers from the Afghan border.
A second intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the number of soldiers killed in the attack.
The Pakistani Taliban has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. A statement from the group said the attack was carried out in revenge for the killing of top Pakistani Taliban commanders.