Suicide bombing in Pakistan kills 15, including 12 soldiers, army says

Islamist militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a Pakistani security checkpoint in northwest Pakistan, killing 15 people, including 12 soldiers, the military reported Friday. The attack, which occurred overnight between Thursday and Friday in the Tank district near the Afghan border, targeted a post jointly manned by the military and police.

The military stated that after failing to breach the checkpoint's security, the militants drove the vehicle into its outer wall. In retaliation, the army engaged the militants, resulting in the deaths of 12 attackers. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the assault, saying four suicide bombers participated.

Militancy has significantly increased in northwest Pakistan in recent months. The Pakistani Taliban have been engaged in a conflict against the state since 2007, aiming to establish their strict interpretation of Islamic governance. Islamabad alleges that militants utilize safe havens in Afghanistan for training and planning attacks within Pakistan, a claim Kabul denies, asserting that militancy is Pakistan's internal issue.