Pakistan: Attack in North Waziristan kills three soldiers Dec. 11

Event

Three soldiers were killed and at least seven others were injured in an attack in the Razmak area of North Waziristan on Monday, December 11. The soldiers were reportedly on a patrol in the Razmak region when the incident occurred. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Security forces launched a search operation for the assailants, but no arrests or additional fighting has been reported.

Context

Extremist Islamist groups, including the terrorist organization Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TPP) and various terrorist groups under its umbrella, continue to pose a threat throughout the country despite continued army offensives to push them from their northwestern strongholds near the Afghan border. Pakistan has suffered a number of deadly attacks this year, notably in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Tribal Areas, Peshawar, and Lahore.

Advice

Due to the high threat of terrorism and other forms of violent crime, individuals in Pakistan are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities (their diplomatic mission or security manager). As a reminder, all Western embassies in Pakistan advise their citizens against nonessential travel to the country. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.