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PESHAWAR, Pakistan; Twelve soldiers were killed in northwest Pakistan on Saturday in an ambush by Islamist militants on an army convoy, officials said.
The soldiers were moving in vehicles when they came under fire in the mountainous Badar area of South Waziristan near the border with Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s military said in a statement that 12 soldiers and 13 militants were killed in the clash “after an intense exchange of fire.”
At least four people were injured, security officials said.
The Pakistani Taliban, a jihadist group that Islamabad says is based in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility, saying it had also captured weapons and drones from the soldiers.
Residents said they saw helicopters in the air for hours after the early morning attack, taking the casualties to hospital and searching for the attackers.
Typically, a curfew is imposed and the route swept before military convoys move in the area, a focus for militants.
Islamabad alleges that the Pakistani Taliban is being harbored by the Afghan Taliban administration with the support of India, a source of tension with Kabul and New Delhi, which both deny the charge. The group is inspired by the Afghan Taliban.
The Pakistani group stepped up attacks, targeting Pakistani security forces since the Afghan Taliban swept to power in 2021.
“Pakistan expects the interim Afghan Government to uphold its responsibilities and deny use of its soil for terrorists’ activities against Pakistan,” Pakistan’s military said.

TOKYO: The ambassador of the State of Palestine in Tokyo, Waleed Siam, has urged the Japanese government to recognize Palestine as a state, saying support from Japan “is crucial to our cause.”

In an interview with Arab News Japan on Saturday, Siam said Japan’s potential recognition of Palestine was a brave decision that would resonate with the Palestinian people.

“It reflects a commitment to justice and offers a hopeful message for peace and respect for international law,” he said. “The Palestinian community will appreciate this stance from Japan and looks forward to strengthening ties and cooperation between their nations for generations to come.”

France and �������� will co-chair a conference in New York on Sept. 22 promote a two-state solution.

The planned recognition of the Palestinian state by countries such as France and Britain aims to put pressure on Israel to lift its siege of the Gaza Strip.

Currently, the Japanese government, led by outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is in the final stages of discussions about recognizing the state of Palestine. Ishiba announced his decision to resign last Sunday.

In contrast, the US “has urged Japan not to recognize Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly later this month,” diplomatic sources said Friday.

According to Kyodo News: “The United States has communicated to Japan its opposition to recognizing a Palestinian state through various diplomatic channels, arguing that such recognition would exacerbate the situation and urging Tokyo to align with Washington.”

The report added a source from the US government had warned Tokyo recognizing a Palestinian state would significantly affect US-Japan relations.

Meanwhile, during a phone call on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya to recognize the state, according to a Japanese government source. Sources also indicate Britain has expressed similar sentiments.

Asked to comment on the reports, Siam said the reported US pressure was unjustified and contrasted sharply with growing international recognition of an independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.

He emphasized this recognition was not just a matter of opinion; it was firmly grounded in resolutions of international legitimacy and law.

“We appreciate the courageous stance of nations that intend to recognize the State of Palestine, especially the efforts of France and ��������,” he said.

The long road to Palestinian statehood

An Arab News Deep Dive

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