At Least 13 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Waziristan Attack; India Rejects Pak Army’s Allegation

New Delhi: At least 13 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide attack in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday (June 28).

While Reuters has reported a toll of 13, other outlets have reported a higher number – 16.

A local government official told the news agency AFP that a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy. The attack took place in the province's North Waziristan district.

As many as 29 people – 10 army personnel and 19 civilians – are reportedly injured. Six children are among those injured.

Some outlets have reported that the Pakistani Taliban has taken responsibility for the attack. The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, is an alliance of formerly disparate militant groups that came together in 2007 following Pakistan military operations against Al-Qaida-related militants. The group operates along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

This comes days after Pakistan was appointed chair of the UN Security Council’s 1988 Sanctions Committee, which monitors sanctions targeting the Taliban, and vice-chair of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee.

In a statement released by the Union Ministry of External Affairs, India has strongly rejected claims that it was behind the Waziristan attack.

"We have seen an official statement by the Pakistan Army seeking to blame India for the attack in Waziristan on 28 June. We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves," the MEA statement said.

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