10 killed, including security personnel, in suicide bombing in Pakistan

Reuters - Islamist militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into ​a Pakistani security checkpoint, killing 15 people, including ‌12 soldiers, in northwest Pakistan, the military said on Friday, adding that 12 militants had been killed in retaliation.

The attack on ​the post jointly manned by the military and ​police happened overnight between Thursday and Friday in ⁠the Tank district near the Afghan border, an ​area that has long served as home to Islamist militants.

Militancy ​has risen sharply in the northwest Pakistan in recent months.

The army engaged the militants, who after failing to breach the security of ​the checkpoint drove the explosive laden vehicle into ​its outer wall, the military's statement said.

Local Taliban militants, also known as ‌Tehreek-e-Taliban ⁠Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying four suicide bombers took part in it, according to a statement.

The Taliban have been waging a war against the Pakistani ​state since 2007 ​in an ⁠attempt to overthrow the government and replace it with their own brand of strict ​Islamic governance.

Islamabad says the militants use safe ​havens ⁠in Afghanistan to train and plan attacks in Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies. Afghanistan says the militancy is Pakistan's ⁠domestic problem.