At least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed on Saturday in an ambush by Pakistani Taliban fighters in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border, local officials and security sources said.

The attack occurred around 4:00 a.m., when militants positioned on both sides of the road opened heavy fire on a convoy of the army and border guards, killing 12 security personnel, according to AFP.

The assault highlights the growing threat posed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has stepped up attacks on military and security forces in recent months, particularly in border regions adjacent to Afghanistan.