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An armed group targeted a military post in northwestern Pakistan with a vehicle filled with explosives and suicide bombers, killing seven security force members. The attack took place near the Afghanistan border, specifically in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, known for its ongoing unrest.

The military’s response to the Saturday assault led to the death of six attackers, some of whom were wearing suicide vests. In a statement, the military said, “The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of a portion of a building.” This initial strike resulted in the death of five security personnel, with two more dying during the attack.

Despite the military not saying who was responsible for the attack, a newly formed terrorist organization called “Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad,” claimed responsibility. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have openly condemned the attack and paid their respects to the “martyred” troops.

This all comes as attacks have increased in North Waziristan, a former haven for militant groups like the Pakistani Taliban. This group, although different, shares alliances with the Afghan Taliban, which gained control of Afghanistan in 2021 amid the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.