Pakistan army reports fatal clash near Afghan border
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A deadly clash between Pakistani forces and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in North Waziristan has left four soldiers dead.
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Pakistan Army troops patrol along the fence on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Big Ben hilltop post in Khyber district, Pakistan, Aug. 3, 2021. (AP)
The Pakistani military has confirmed the deaths of four soldiers during a TTP border clash in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, near the border with Afghanistan. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the overnight firefight erupted after a local security post was attacked by militants identified as members of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), described in the army's statement as “allegedly Indian-backed terrorists.”
During the engagement, six TTP militants were reportedly killed. One of the fallen soldiers was Lieutenant Daniyal Ismail, aged 24 and a resident of District Mardan.
The Pakistani military's assertion that the assailants may have been backed by India marks a significant development in regional security dynamics. While New Delhi has not commented on the latest incident, accusations of Indian involvement in cross-border militancy have surfaced periodically, intensifying mutual distrust.
Rising Pakistan-India tensions after Operation Sindoor
The firefight in North Waziristan comes amid escalating Pakistan-India tensions, particularly following the April 22 attack near Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, including a Nepalese national. The Resistance Front, a group with suspected terrorist affiliations, claimed responsibility. India subsequently accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers, citing alleged ties between Islamabad and "extremist elements".
In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, a missile strike campaign aimed at what it termed terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan. The Indian Defense Ministry maintained that the operation targeted only militant facilities, avoiding Pakistani military positions. However, Pakistani authorities reported that the strikes caused the deaths of at least 31 civilians.
Although both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, accusations of violations persist. On Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that “Operation Sindoor was not over yet,” signaling potential further escalation.
