ISLAMABAD – Armed clashes in Pakistan’s northwestern region near the Afghan border on Saturday left six soldiers and 22 militants dead, the military said, amid a surge in attacks by Islamist fighters.
The Pakistan Army reported that the firefights occurred during intelligence-based operations in Waziristan and neighboring districts. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility, stating its fighters killed the soldiers by storming a security checkpoint but did not disclose its own casualties.
The TTP, an umbrella group of Sunni Islamist factions, has intensified its assaults in recent months, mainly targeting security forces as part of its broader aim to overthrow Pakistan’s government and impose strict Islamic rule.
While distinct from the Afghan Taliban, the TTP has pledged allegiance to the group now governing Afghanistan following the 2021 withdrawal of U.S.-led international forces. The ongoing violence highlights escalating instability in Pakistan’s tribal regions.