The bullet-riddled bodies of the missing 10 were found dumped in Dabori town of the tribal area.

One security official said 23 soldiers were attacked in the late-night attack by up to 100 heavily armed militants.

“They killed 13 soldiers and took away 10. The bodies (of the 10) were found in Dabori today,” said another source on condition of anonymity.

An official of the military’s media wing said they had been missing since December 21 when militants attacked a checkpost.

The bodies were found Sunday. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.

Dead bodies of fifteen other security officers were also discovered from Tank district earlier last week.