On Wednesday, the Pakistan Army reported that four soldiers were killed in a fierce gun battle with terrorists near the Afghan border. The clash resulted in the deaths of six terrorists as well. According to the Army’s media wing, ISPR, a sanitization operation is underway to eliminate the militants.
This violence occurred during Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day celebrations. The conflict took place in the South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region known for its militant strongholds linked to al-Qaeda.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group for Islamist militants, has intensified attacks on security forces since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan. The military is conducting approximately 100 intelligence-based operations against militants daily.
The Pakistani Taliban have caused significant casualties, with around 80,000 Pakistanis killed over the years as they seek to impose strict Islamic law. Islamabad accuses Kabul of supporting Islamist militants who launch cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, a charge the Taliban denies.