Heavy Clashes Near Afghan Border Leave 12 Pakistani Soldiers, 35 Militants Dead
In a series of fierce confrontations this week along Pakistan’s northwestern frontier with Afghanistan, 12 Pakistani soldiers and 35 militants have been killed, the military announced.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces launched an operation in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), targeting a hideout of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In that clash, 22 militants lost their lives.
Separately, in South Waziristan district, another 13 militants were killed in an exchange of fire. The ISPR has confirmed that those militants were also affiliated with the TTP.
The ISPR mourned the deaths of its soldiers, saying: “During intense fire exchange, twelve brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom).”
This surge in violence reflects growing challenges confronting Pakistan in securing its KP province, especially since the breakdown of a fragile truce between the state and the Pakistani Taliban in November 2022.
Further, Pakistan’s military claims there is intelligence-based evidence of involvement by Afghan nationals in these attacks, a charge that Kabul rejects. The statement also expressed deep concern over militants allegedly using Afghan soil as a base against Pakistan.
So far, there has been no immediate reaction from the Afghan government to these allegations.
