A Pakistani army soldier stands guard during a patrol in Pakka village in Kurram Tribal Agency December 18, 2012. PHOTO: REUTERS
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. North Waziristan is perhaps the most notorious of Pakistan's tribal districts on the Afghan border, a known stronghold of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked operatives.
The deaths were a reminder of the serious security threat in Pakistan, just hours before former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was due to return home to Karachi after more than four years in exile.
"In last night's attack on a security forces' checkpost in North Waziristan, 17 security forces personnel embraced shahadat (martyrdom)," the military said.
Security officials explained the sudden increase in the death toll after it jumped from six by saying that many of the dead had been trapped under the rubble following the blast.
Another 10 soldiers were also wounded in the attack on a check post operated jointly by the regular army and the Frontier Corps paramilitary.
Pakistani troops have fought for years against homegrown insurgents in the tribal belt on the Afghan border.
There are fears that rampant insecurity could prove a major challenge for historic general elections on May 11, which should mark the first democratic transition of power between two civilian governments in Pakistani history.
COMMENTS (42)
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The ruthless enemy never has any value for human lives. Anyone who is a challenge for their evil agenda, they are willing to destroy with their suicide bombers. We strongly condemn this attack on the military check post in North Waziristan and send our condolences to the friends and families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in this act of extreme cowardice. It is just a matter of time for this common enemy. They can come from their hiding, disguised as water suppliers and kill and wound brave soldiers but this cannot go on any longer. Time is ripe for their elimination. Just wait – it is coming.
Abdul Quddus
@Haider, the fact is you don't respect your soldiers. You didn't accept dead bodies of Kargil soldiers, just disowned them. You didn't accept Mumbai attackers (I need not say they were Pakistanis, the whole world knows).
@Syed A. Mateen: Very true and I share your feelings. May they rest in Jannatul Firdous. Ameen.
@ ayesha: Yes, this should have been on the headline news so that we may know the continuity and persistence of the serious situation on the frontiers.
Have you all noticed that the media; press and electronic, do not carry any news of the injuries to and sacrifices our soldiers are making. They are NOT visited by the high and mighty political so and so's in Pakistan or by the social workers. Neither are our soldiers eulogized by the media and politicians or given any medals or physical relief. Why? Because of the fear of TTP and other political parties who share a different point of view. This diffidence will cause the politicians to lose ground in the future. Salams
@kaalchakra:
Only if India and Afghanistan were not Pakistan’s neighbors! :(
This is still doable. Ask for a division of your original home- Arabia.
Or, simply engage in some reverse migration.
Who says freedom comes easy? it costs the country A SON A DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
need i say more?
it is sad that indians are allowed to taunt us about the devastating deaths of our young, heaven-bound soldiers, struck down in the prime of their lives. why on a moderated forum, we allows this is simply unforgivable.
@kaalchakra: Actually it was India and Afghanistan who were the neighbors. Then your founding father had a brilliant idea of partition which resulted a country sandwiched between two ancient neighbors.In fact if he had chosen Antarctica as a land for all Muslims living in subcontinent, then you would not have had these two neighbors.Alas ! no one gave him that idea and now you guys are stuck with India and Afghanistan.
@Jat: Agree with your comments. However, it was Gen Musharraf who refused to take back the bodies of NLI soldiers killed in Kargil war who were given burial as per Islamic rituals by Indian Muslim jawans and photographs of same appeared in the Indian newspapers. If the Pak army chief himself treats his soldiers who were martyrs of the nation so disrespectfully then how could the civilians be expected to back them.
Wow! I guess RAW is really doing good job in Pakistan. Chalo! there is a government body whch is still working properly...
Let us look at the priorities of Pakistanis:
As I type this, there are 33 comments here, more than half of which are probably Indian. And the new is "killing of at least 17 young officers and jawans of Pakistan Army". The news of the return of a military dictator and usurper, "Homecoming: Musharraf returns to 'save Pakistan'" has 100 comments. The Kaptaan's rally of "change has arrived" has 115 comments.
One wonders, for who are these young soldiers dying for ?
@Candid: Your reply to: "@ayesha Why would it be?It does not relate to Katrina Kaif or Salman Khan or any other masala news of bollywood!"
It is not like Shahrukh Khan's interview also. Also they are just some soldiers not shaheeds like Ajmal Kasab or Afzal Guru. I have watched at least three popular and reputed TV channels inviting Hafeez Saeed for 40 minute exclusive interview on his invitation to Shahrukh Khan to migrate to Pakistan.
@Khan: Your reply to @Jat: "@Jat…i would just say that Sharam magar tum ko nhi aati… ...........Oh i forgot my indian friends here…."
BTW, Many Indians also watched the videos of Pakistanis coming to the streets, celebrating and distributing sweets when the Mumbai attacks were in progress.
Where are my other comments?
Oh, yeah, no free speech in Pakistan either.
@Syed: This will continue until they go inside waziristan and clean the mess
umm who is "they" ? Weren't "they" the same who gave birth to these lovelies ? And just Waziristan ? Who will clean up the rest of Pakistan ? Karachi ? Baluchistan, anyone ?
These are our soldiers who are killed. 17 lives lost & so many families shattered. Yet we have no coherent policy on how to counter militancy and terrorism.
How can any nation & army stand idle while its soldiers are being slaughtered? Also read a BBC article on growing influence of Taliban in Khi.
I wonder how many political leaders will condemn this? I wonder how the generals will react to this?
@Khan: arnt U grueved on the loss of such fine young men who have rendered so many sacrifices for people like you?
Quick at jumping to silly conclusions, are we ? Do you see me celebrating ? Or expressing joy at this news ? You fools, ab bhi sambhal jao. Correct your misguided ways and try to save your nation.
And if you still cannot understand the role of Generals in Pakistan's downward spiral to the bottom, then there is no hope for you.
This will continue until they go inside waziristan and clean the mess
send these guys after them:
http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/525506-pakistansoldierarmyREUTERS-1364102970-770-640x480.jpg
no one could survive these experts
@Jat...i would just say that Sharam magar tum ko nhi aati....arnt U grueved on the loss of such fine young men who have rendered so many sacrifices for people like you?and still generals are rangling in your mind....Oh i forgot my indian friends here....
@Truth_Prevails: We need to wipe off this breed of beasts from Pakistan.
Have you taken permission from their masters, and your masters too, the Pakistani Generals ?
These cold blooded murderers are pure enemies of the country and deserve no MERCY or TALKS for their heinous crimes.
The Amry must crush them with full might, with or without the supoort of the weak politicians. They will get the support of the entire nation, sick and tired of these atrocities. Salute to these brave young men and officers who died in this senseless attack. This sad news should have been the top headline today to express solidarity with all those who lost loved ones and mounrn the loss of these fine soldiers. Hope theri blood does not go down the drain. Wake up dear Pakistan, or they are out to destroy you.
Proud of these soldiers...they r sacrificing their lives for sleeping nation...
This is a big setback for the military who are themselves to be blamed for not mounting decisive offensive on these barbarians which is resulting in deaths of hundreds of soldiers and thousands of civilians. Gen Kayani and his top brass should make a new strategy on top priority to eliminate TTP before elections take place in Pakistan otherwise lot of bloodshed may take place during this period.
These TTP r shameless cowards and r neither men nor women. They attack like cowards in the dark and through hijacked kids either by indoctrining them with munafaqat and if unsuccessful then threatening to kill their entire family. We need to wipe off this breed of beasts from Pakistan.
@kaalchakra : You only reap what you sow. Alas ! you cannot choose your neighbours, but be sure ask any country if it like to be neighbour of Pakistan ? Religion is opium for masses and masses in Pakistan are on overdose of this special kind of opium . For 65 years they have been fed lies and false sense of racial and religious supremacy that they fail to see at which pace world is moving . The sooner India and Pakistan learn to live like good neighbours and Pakistan gets over its obsession with India the better would be for its people, otherwise the world functions on the law of survival of the fittest . In these times its only economic fitness that matters, even dumb can figure out who is fittest among the neighbors of Pakistan .
These attacks are always underreported. There are many deaths where one or two people die which never make it into newspapers.
Ir Pakistan's Armed Forces has lost Dignity Izzat Ehtram Respect among Pakistani folks there is some thing wrong in Pakistan it must be done on emergency footing Pakistan Army Educated Civilised Organisation Fall in the Trap? how is possible Peoples are Gundown by owen forces in Ir Pakistan okey if Pakistan govt are fighiting so called Terrorists since 2001 in Balouchistan in FATA Practicaly half of Pakistani Territory! how is possible!!! the so called very Organised Forces are not yet win the Battle? there is some thing wrong my Pakistani Folks!
Taha, Afghanistan is a secondary problem. The primary one is India. Only if India and Afghanistan were not Pakistan's neighbors! :(
Inna Lillah he Wa Inna Elihe Rajeoon
ONLY, ONLY if Afghanistan wasn't our neighbour. :s
Pakistan hasn't still realized who their enemy is. It will take more than a decade and hundreds of thousand lives.
@ayesha: only new type of news will be in headlines. no routine reporting will be in headlines.
Why wont the mulla;s condem this attack ???? publicly ...
I hate this type of news. The loss of young soldiers who sacrifice the prime of their lives and for what. Very sad indeed. Straight to heaven as this life was truly an illusion for these soldiers. I do get quite upset when I here young Pakistani soldiers die like that. Agree why is this not the major headline news?
Taliban preparing for negotiations eh?
It would seem that the Talibans are also having problems with their intelligence info. blowing up the soldiers assuming that their buddy Musharaf was among them. Pakistan is becoming the country of martyrs.
Rex Minor.
I am very grieved to read this news.
May Al-Mighty Allah rest their souls in peace. Ameen.
@ayesha Why would it be?It does not relate to Katrina Kaif or Salman Khan or any other masala news of bollywood!
why isn't this piece of news in the main headlines!
Now the military is admitting 17 deaths. The real death toll is close to 30. Still this news is being downplayed on ET and elsewhere too. As if, by pretending that these blasts are not happening the problem will go away on its own.
there are those still arguing about peace talks with TTP. Rehman Malik's only truth, "offer of peace talks by Taliban is only a tactic to regain strength" Malik was true in this matter
No negotiations with these monsters. The army should avenge the death of brave soldiers and eliminate the terrorists and their backers with ruthlessness and precision.