The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) released two separate videos on Friday claiming attacks on two military positions in South Waziristan and on security and local peace committee posts in Taunsa Sharif in south Punjab. The claims, the authenticity of the footage and any casualties have not been independently verified.
According to sources, in the first video the TTP claimed it targeted a military post at Sherkani in the Toi Khula area of South Waziristan and a military fort at Khaisora in the Tiarza area. The group gave no verifiable casualty figures, and it is unclear when the alleged attacks took place.
The second video, described by the group as episode 22 of a series it calls "Operation Al-Khyber", focuses on south Punjab. According to sources, it contains footage of a suicide car-bomb attack some months ago on the Jhangi check post in Taunsa Sharif, showing the attacker setting off, the vehicle heading towards the target and a large explosion. It also includes footage of 10 to 15 quadcopter attacks on Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and local peace committee positions in the Jade Wali area, in which people are shown being killed and wounded. The group has given neither dates for the attacks nor verifiable casualty figures.
The same video shows Chaudhry Muneeb ur Rehman Jutt, whom the group identifies as a former official of its Umar Media wing, at a gathering with TTP members in south Punjab. Addressing people in Punjab in particular, he refers to military operations and the situation in Kashmir, Swat, Waziristan, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, repeats the group's position against the state and appeals to people to join it.
The videos come as TTP attacks have risen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the use of quadcopters in militant attacks has grown, with such strikes also reported around Taunsa Sharif, which borders the province. On the same day, a person was reportedly injured in a quadcopter strike in Basti Jotar, Taunsa Sharif, details of which are here. There had been no response from the military or local authorities to the claims at the time of publication.