Dozens Killed as Pakistani Army, Fighters Clash Near Afghan Border
At least 11 Pakistani soldiers, including two senior officers, have been killed in a fierce gunfight with armed fighters in the country’s northwestern region near the Afghan border. The clash occurred early Wednesday during an intelligence-led operation in Orakzai district, according to a statement from the Pakistani army.
Military sources confirmed that Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Arif, Major Tayyab Rahat, and nine other soldiers lost their lives in the confrontation, while 19 fighters were reportedly killed during the exchange of fire. The operation turned violent when the troops came under heavy attack from insurgents identified as members of a banned militant group.
Security officials said the attackers ambushed a military convoy using a roadside bomb before opening fire, sparking an intense gun battle that lasted several hours.
The Pakistan Taliban later claimed responsibility for the assault. The group has recently intensified attacks on security forces across the country, seeking to topple the government and impose its own hardline form of Islamic rule.
Authorities in Islamabad have repeatedly accused the Pakistan Taliban of using bases in neighboring Afghanistan to plan and launch cross-border attacks, while also alleging that India provides financial and logistical support to the militants. Both Kabul and New Delhi have denied these claims.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the armed forces for their efforts and expressed condolences to the families of the soldiers who were killed in action. The latest attack underscores the escalating violence along Pakistan’s western frontier, where government forces have been battling militant networks for years despite repeated pledges to restore stability.
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